Stock control clerks and assistants — SOC 2020 4133
Stock control clerks and assistants receive orders from customers, prepare requisitions or despatch documents for ordered goods, maintain and update records, files and other correspondence in relation to the storage and despatch of goods.
Also calledStores assistantStock supervisorSupply chain assistantStore officerSupplies superintendentOrder clerkand 144 more titles
Recruitment from abroad. Fewer than 10 sponsored work visas were granted for this job from July 2025 to June 2026. Home Office
Who does it
ONS · Annual Population Survey · April 2025 to March 2026
23%aged 55 or over
17%hold a degree
43%women
Age of stock control assistants
Age profile of stock control assistants
16%!
23%!
20%!
18%!
20%!
2.7%!
16–2425–3435–4445–5455–6465+
!Small sample: treat with cautionShow as table
16–24
16% (small sample)
25–34
23% (small sample)
35–44
20% (small sample)
45–54
18% (small sample)
55–64
20% (small sample)
65+
2.7% (small sample)
Highest qualification
Highest qualification held by stock control assistants
Degree or equivalent17%
Higher education below degree!7.8%
A levels or equivalent32%
GCSEs or equivalent28%
Other qualifications!8.4%
No qualifications!3.9%
!Small sample: treat with cautionShow as table
Degree or equivalent
17%
Higher education below degree
7.8% (small sample)
A levels or equivalent
32%
GCSEs or equivalent
28%
Other qualifications
8.4% (small sample)
No qualifications
3.9% (small sample)
Main employers: warehousing and storage (8.2%), retail sale in non-specialised stores with food, beverages or tobacco predominating (7.8%), hospital activities (4.6%), wholesale of other machinery and equipment (2.7%).
How to get in
Hold a degree
17%
as their highest qualification
Most common qualification
A levels or equivalent
held by 32%
Apprenticeships
None
none leads directly into this work
Routes in
You can get into this job through:
Apprenticeship
You could start by applying for a place on an apprenticeship, such as:
Retail Service, Supply and Administration Level 2 Foundation Apprenticeship
no specific qualifications or experience to apply for a foundation apprenticeship
some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
More about this route+
Foundation apprenticeship
You can apply for a foundation apprenticeship if you're aged 16 to 21.
If you're aged 22 to 24, you can apply if you:
have an education, health and care (EHC) plan
are in care or have been in care
are in prison or have been in prison
Work your way up
You could look for work in a shop, supermarket, parts department or distribution depot and move into stock control through training and promotion.
Apply directly
You can apply directly for seasonal or permanent jobs. There are no set entry requirements though some employers may ask for GCSEs in maths and English.
Experience in retail or warehouse work could be helpful.
Employers will give you training on how to use computerised stock management systems when you start.
Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for stock control assistant. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
The work
ONS · ESCO · O*NET
Typical tasks
receives and checks in deliveries from suppliers or completed stock to be despatched to customers
allocates appropriate storage space in accordance with stock control and space utilisation policies
receives enquiries and orders from customers, and quotes prices, discounts, delivery dates and other relevant information
prepares requisitions, consignments and other despatch documents
checks requisitions against stock records and forwards to issuing department
adjusts stock records as orders are received, reports on damaged stock and prepares requisitions to replenish damaged stock
Skills
carry out inventory control accuracy
carry out inventory planning
check for damaged items
ensure stock storage safety
maintain stock control systems
manage inventory
monitor stock level
advise on efficiency improvements
develop communication networks with shipping sites
handle returns
issue purchase orders
manage warehouse inventory
operate warehouse record systems
order supplies
Knowledge
inventory management rules
mathematics
products coding system
warehouse operations
Suits people who like
Organising and following procedures
Practical, hands-on work
Outlook
DfE · Skills Imperative 2035
Broader groupThese projections are for administrative occupations, a group of 20 jobs that includes stock control assistants.
Change in jobs, 2020 to 2035↓ 12%about 381,000 fewer jobs
Workers needed by 20351 millionincluding people replacing those who retire or leave
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: Office for National Statistics licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Occupations in demand and the Employer Skills Survey: Department for Education and Skills England. Immigration system statistics: Home Office. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
This service uses the ESCO classification of the European Commission.
This service includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. This service has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. CC BY 4.0 licence.
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