AI tools can compare supplier quotes, forecast demand, flag contract risks and even run simple negotiations for routine items. Purchasing agents and buyers still choose suppliers, negotiate the deals that matter and manage relationships when a supply chain breaks.
The short answer: AI is automating parts of procurement, but it is not replacing buyers. The ILO's 2025 index puts buyers in minimal exposure, with a score of 0.39. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 6 percent growth for buyers and purchasing agents from 2025 to 2035, and about 53,600 openings a year across purchasing roles. Projections are estimates, not guarantees.
How exposed purchasing agents are
The International Labour Organization scores occupations' tasks from 0 (cannot be automated with generative AI) to 1 (could be done without a human operator), and groups them into gradients from 1 to 4, with 4 the most exposed; below them sit minimal exposure and not exposed (ILO Working Paper 140, 2025).
| Occupation (ISCO-08) | ILO category | Mean task score (0 to 1) |
|---|---|---|
| Buyers | Minimal exposure | 0.39 |
What the BLS projects
| Occupation | Projected change 2025 to 2035 | Openings a year |
|---|---|---|
| Buyers and purchasing agents | Grow 6% | In total |
| Purchasing managers | Grow 4% | In total |
| Purchasing managers, buyers and purchasing agents, total | Grow 6% | About 53,600 |
The BLS says these workers will be needed to procure goods and services, oversee complex supply chains and negotiate and manage supplier contracts. It also says organizations continue to automate some procurement tasks and integrate AI, making procurement more efficient. In the public sector, cooperative purchasing agreements may limit the need for procurement officers.
What AI is taking on
- Comparing quotes, prices and supplier data.
- Demand forecasting and reorder suggestions.
- Reviewing contracts for missing or risky terms.
- Routine purchase orders and invoice matching.
What stays with purchasing agents
- Negotiation: the deals where price, terms and trust all matter.
- Supplier relationships: knowing who will deliver when things go wrong.
- Risk calls: weighing cost against quality, ethics and supply security.
- Checking AI help: forecasts and contract summaries can be confidently wrong, which NIST calls confabulation (NIST AI 600-1). See checking AI output.
How the job is changing
Routine buying is becoming automatic, so buyers spend more time on strategic sourcing, supplier risk and negotiation. The BLS still projects growth, but the routine end of the job is where efficiency gains land first.
See also will AI replace logistics jobs?, will AI replace cost estimators? and will AI replace sales jobs?
Pay and how to get in
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the median annual pay for purchasing managers buyers and purchasing agents at $81,670 in May 2025, against $50,980 for all workers. The typical education needed to enter is: bachelor's degree. See how this job compares in AI exposure by pay and AI exposure by education level.
Questions and answers
Will AI replace purchasing agents?
Not on current evidence. The ILO puts buyers in minimal exposure, and the BLS projects 6 percent growth for buyers and purchasing agents from 2025 to 2035.
Does the BLS mention AI for purchasing jobs?
Yes. It says organizations continue to automate some procurement tasks and integrate AI, making procurement more efficient.
How many purchasing openings are expected?
The BLS projects about 53,600 openings a year across purchasing managers, buyers and purchasing agents.
What purchasing work stays human?
Negotiation, supplier relationships, risk decisions and checking AI forecasts and summaries.