Wholesale and Retail Buyers, Except Farm Products

Buy merchandise or commodities, other than farm products, for resale to consumers at the wholesale or retail level, including both durable and nondurable goods. Analyze past buying trends, sales records, price, and quality of merchandise to determine value and yield. Select, order, and authorize payment for merchandise according to contractual agreements. May conduct meetings with sales personnel and introduce new products. May negotiate contracts. Includes assistant wholesale and retail buyers of nonfarm products.

The occupation "Wholesale and Retail Buyers, Except Farm Products" faces a moderate automation risk of 55.4%, slightly lower than its base risk of 56.3%. This level of risk reflects the nature of many buying tasks that can be codified into rules or managed by algorithms. A significant portion of the job revolves around actions such as negotiating prices, discount terms, or transportation arrangements with suppliers—tasks increasingly handled by sophisticated procurement platforms and AI-powered negotiation tools. Additionally, the core responsibility of buying merchandise or commodities for resale is susceptible to automation, as predictive analytics and data-driven decision engines become capable of forecasting demand and optimizing purchasing. The process of examining, selecting, ordering, or purchasing merchandise based on quality or specification can also be partly automated, particularly with advancements in e-commerce and supply chain management systems. Despite this, there are key tasks within the role that remain difficult to automate and thereby reduce overall automation risk. Among the most resistant activities are those requiring insight into consumer behavior and environmental trends—areas where human judgment is crucial. For example, monitoring consumer preferences or emerging trends to determine how best to introduce new green products requires an understanding of cultural, social, and environmental contexts that AI currently struggles to interpret deeply. Identifying opportunities to buy and resell green commodities also demands a nuanced comprehension of market shifts and product certifications, as does developing innovative strategies for advertising green merchandise. These responsibilities rely heavily on market intuition, creativity, and adaptability: qualities that are still challenging for automated systems to replicate. The persistence of human involvement in these resistant tasks is further reflected in the bottleneck skills for the occupation, with "Originality" identified at both 3.0% and 3.1%. Even if the percentages seem relatively small, originality—defined here as the ability to develop novel ideas and creative approaches—is a critical barrier to full automation. It underpins the more strategic and creative aspects of the buyer’s role, such as product curation and innovative marketing, which cannot easily be reduced to algorithmic processes. The necessity for original thinking ensures that while routine and standardized functions may be automated, the occupation will continue to demand human expertise in areas that require creativity, adaptability, and strategic foresight.