Stock clerks receive, unpack, check, store, and keep track of merchandise or materials. They keep records of items entering or leaving the stock room and report damaged or spoiled goods. They organize and, when necessary, mark items with identifying codes or prices so that inventories can be located quickly and easily. In many firms, stock clerks use hand-held scanners, which they can connect to computers to keep inventories up to date.
In stores, stock clerks bring merchandise to the sales floor and stock shelves and racks. In stockrooms and warehouses, they store materials in bins, on the floor, or on shelves. In large establishments where they may be responsible for only one specific task, they may be known as inventory clerk, stock control clerk, merchandise distributor, order filler, property custodian, or storekeeper. In small firms they may also be responsible for tasks usually handled by shipping and receiving clerks.
Working Conditions
Stock clerks work in a wide variety of businesses, institutions, and industries. Some work in warehouses, stock rooms, or in shipping and receiving rooms that are not temperature-controlled. Others may spend time in cold storage rooms or outside on loading platforms, where they are exposed to the weather. Most jobs involve frequent standing, bending, walking, stretching, lifting, and carrying. Although many use mechanical material-handling equipment to move heavy items, the work still can be strenuous. The typical workweek is 40 hours, Monday through Friday, although evening and weekend hours are standard for some jobs and may be required in others when large shipments are involved or when inventory is taken.
Employment
Eighty percent of stock clerks work in wholesale or retail trade. The greatest numbers were employed by department and grocery stores. Jobs for stock clerks are found in all parts of the country, but most work in urban areas where stores, warehouses, and factories are concentrated.
Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement
Employers prefer to hire high school graduates, especially those who have taken business courses. Preference also may be given to candidates who have previous business or specific job related experience. Good reading and writing skills, as well a basic knowledge of business arithmetic are necessary. Typing, filing, recordkeeping, and other clerical skills are also important. Some employers give applicants typing tests.
Familiarity with personal computers or compiling systems is an asset, because computers are increasingly used for inventory control and dispatching.
Trainees usually develop the necessary skills on the job. This informal training lasts from several days to a few months depending on the complexity of the job. Stock clerks usually learn the job by doing simple tasks under close supervision. They learn how to count and mark stock and then start keeping records and taking inventory. Stock clerks whose sole responsibility is to bring merchandise to the sales floor and stock shelves and racks need little or no training. Training in the use of automated equipment is usually done informally on the job.
Strength, stamina, good eyesight, and an ability to work repetitive tasks, sometimes under pressure, are important characteristics for stock clerks.
Advancement opportunities vary with the place of employment. In large firms, stock clerks can advance to invoice clerks, stock control clerk, or procurement clerk. With additional trading, some stock clerks can advance to jobs such as ware house manager or purchasing agent.
Job Outlook
Job prospects for stock clerks should be favorable even though employment is expected to grow more slowly than the average for all occupations. This occupation is very large, and many job openings will occur each year to replace those who transfer to other jobs or leave the labor force. Many jobs are entry-level, and therefore vacancies are also created by normal career progression.
Growing use of computers for inventory control and n automated equipment are expected to slow growth in demand for stock clerks. This is especially true in manufacturing and in wholesale trade, the industries whose operations are most easily automated. In addition to computerized inventory control system firms in these industries are expected to rely more and more sophisticated conveyor belts, automatic high stackers to store, retrieve goods, and automatic guided vehicles, which are batter powered and driverless.
Employment of stock clerks who work in grocery, general merchandise, department, apparel, and accessories stores is expected to be somewhat less affected by automation since much of their work is done manually on the sales floor and is difficult for automation.
Earnings
Median weekly earnings of stock clerks are $394. Stock clerks usually receive the same benefits as most other workers. If uniforms are required, employers usually provide uniforms or give an allowance to purchase them.
Related Occupations
Other workers who handle, move, organize, and store materials include shipping and receiving clerks, distributing clerks, stock supervisors, and cargo checkers.
Related D.O.I. Jobs
These job titles are related to or more specific than the more general description given above. They will help you identify job options you may not otherwise discover. These descriptions are in current edition of the Dictionary of Occupational Titles and Justified by numerical order.
There are too many D. O. T. titles to list here. Most are various titles related to a specific industry, and we have included a small number of representative D.O. T. titles as examples. Complete lists available in career software published by JIST or directly from the U.S. Department of Labor.
.367-018 MERCHANDISE DISTRIBUTOR; 219.387-030 STOCK CONTROL CLERK; 222.367-026 FILM-OR-TAPE LIBRARIAN; 222.367-042 ITS CLERK; 222.367-062 TOOL-CRIB ATTENDANT; 222.387-018 SL-OIL CLERK; 222.387-026 INVENTORY CLERK; 222.387-030 EN-ROOMATTENDANT; 222.387-034 MATERIAL CLERK; 222.387-PROPERTY CUSTODIAN; 222.387-058 STOCK CLERK; 222.387-062 STOREKEEPER; 222.487-014 ORDER FILLER; 222.587-022 KITCHEN ;RK; 222.587-054 TRANSFORMER STOCK CLERK; 229.367-010 LD RECORDER; 229.367-014 PARTS LISTER; 229.587-014 QUALITY CONTROL CLERK; 249.367-058 PARTS-ORDER-AND-STOCK CLERK; 299.367-014 STOCK CLERK; 299.677-339.687-010 SUPPLY CLERK; 381.687-010 CENTRAL-SUPPLY WORKER; 969.367-010 CUSTODIAN, ATHLETIC EQUIPMENT
Sources of Additional Information
State employment service offices can provide information about job openings for stock clerks.
General information about stock clerks can be obtained from:
? National Retail Federation, Washington, DC 20004-2608
