US News & World Report has named logistics as one of the 50 best careers for 2010. While logistics is a relatively narrow field, with supply and distribution systems growing increasingly complex, job growth is likely to be higher than average. Employment in the field should increase by 20 percent through 2018.
It also provides opportunities for upward mobility as logisticians are an essential part of operations, with responsibilities that directly affect the bottom line. That provides opportunities to ascend into middle and senior management, especially for those who find new ways to cut costs and improve efficiency. Some logisticians parlay their experience into a job with a consulting firm, or even start their own advisory or outsourcing firm.
The activity level is defined as high and the stress level as moderate to high. "When things are humming, you might sleep soundly. But quality-control issues, delivery shortfalls, and other logistical problems can quickly mushroom into expensive snafus that set management's hair on fire. It could be your job to douse the flames."
