The demand for skilled planners is building. Skills England expects demand for key occupations to grow by nearly 25% over the next decade, with 1.8 million new priority jobs expected by 2035 Skills England's landmark skills report. Supply chain planning sits squarely in that priority group, because getting goods to the right place at the right time underpins almost every sector.
The wider hiring picture is still moving month to month, and the monthly KPMG and REC, UK Report on Jobs remains the clearest read on how permanent and temporary demand is shifting across the labour market the KPMG and REC, UK Report on Jobs. For employers building supply chain teams, that means watching the data closely and moving quickly when the right person is available.
Nearshoring adds a new layer to this. As companies shorten supply lines and bring sourcing closer to UK and European markets, they need people who can plan for shorter lead times, more frequent replenishment and tighter supplier relationships. That's a different skill set from managing long, global ocean freight cycles, and it's creating roles that didn't exist in the same shape a few years ago.
Nearshoring reshapes the planning function around speed and responsiveness. When suppliers sit closer to home, teams can restock more often and hold less stock, so demand planners, inventory planners and supply planners become central to keeping shelves full without tying up cash in warehouses.
Data skills matter more than ever in these roles. IT business analysts, architects and systems designers are among the occupations in critical demand, with three of five indicators flagged as critical in 2025 the Occupations in Demand 2025 release. Modern planning runs on forecasting tools and analytics, so the planners in demand blend supply chain judgement with the ability to read and act on data.
There's also a broader pull towards professional, technical work. In August to October 2025, the largest volume increase in vacancies was in the professional, scientific and technical activities sector, up by 5,000 ONS vacancy figures for November 2025. Planning roles that combine analysis with operational know-how sit right in that growth.
Start by mapping the skills a nearshored network actually needs, not the ones your old global model relied on. Look for people who can forecast short cycles, work closely with nearby suppliers and use planning software confidently. A clear, specific brief helps you spot the right person faster and keeps the process fair.
Move quickly once you find a strong match. Skilled planners are in a growing market, so long, slow processes lose good people to competitors. Set out your interview stages up front, give people a realistic view of the role, and keep feedback timely so the right person stays engaged from first contact to offer.
Think about how you build the pipeline, too. Apprenticeships are reshaping technical hiring in adjacent fields, having risen from 3% of AI hires in 2020 to 19% in 2025 the DSIT AI Labour Market Survey 2025. Growing your own planners through apprenticeships and internal moves is a practical way to close a skills gap that money alone won't fix.
When you're building a planning team for a nearshored network, speed and quality both count. Our recruitment agent manages recruitment end to end for 8% on a successful hire, with no monthly fee and no upfront cost, through Reed.ai. Tell us the planning role you need next, and we'll get to work.
