Sales and purchasing agents and brokers

How to become a Buyer

Official title: Buyers

Also called: Buyer, Procurement officer, Purchasing agent, Purchasing merchandiser, Supply officer

Buyers buy goods and services for use or resale on behalf of industrial, commercial, government or other establishments and organizations.

Main tasks

Determining or negotiating contract terms and conditions, awarding supplier contracts or recommending contract awards for the purchase of equipment, raw materials, products, services and merchandise for resale
Obtaining information about requirements and stock and developing specifications for quantity and quality to be purchased, costs, delivery dates and other contract conditions
Purchasing general and specialized equipment, materials or business services for use or for further processing by their establishment
Inviting tenders, consulting with suppliers and reviewing quotations
Purchasing merchandise for resale by retail or wholesale establishments
Studying market reports, trade periodicals and sales promotion materials and visiting trade shows, showrooms, factories and product design events
Selecting the merchandise or products that best fit the establishment’s requirements
Interviewing suppliers and negotiating prices, discounts, credit terms and transportation arrangements
Overseeing distribution of merchandise to outlets and maintaining adequate stock levels
Establishing delivery schedules, monitoring progress and contacting clients and suppliers to resolve problems

Median pay: HK$27,000 a month
About 1,542,900 people in 2025, and about 1,639,100 projected by 2028. (+6.2%)
Generative AI can do relatively little of this work, by the ILO's global estimate.

Not always. 50% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Generative AI can do relatively little of this work, by the ILO's global estimate.

Census and Statistics Department (2021 Population Census): 2021 Population Census, Interactive Data Dissemination Service: working population by occupation (38 groups) and sex, age, education, income; median income and field of education (9 groups) (2021 Population Census), retrieved 4 October 2026
Census and Statistics Department (General Household Survey): Median monthly employment earnings by occupation (9 groups), excluding foreign domestic helpers (Table 210-06317A); employed persons by occupation, age and sex (210-06307A) and by industry (210-06308A) (2025 annual (series to 2026-07)), retrieved 4 October 2026
Labour and Welfare Bureau; tables published by C&SD: Mid-term Update of Manpower Projection to 2028: supplementary statistical tables (5 occupation groups, 17 selected industries) (2025 to 2028 (published 2026-09)), retrieved 4 October 2026
International Labour Organization, Generative AI and Jobs: A Refined Global Index of Occupational Exposure (ILO Working Paper 140, Gmyrek et al.) (ILO Working Paper 140, May 2025, Annex Table A1), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 4 October 2026

Updated 4 October 2026