It’s hard to imagine, but there was a time when customers waited months to receive their international goods. In the late 1800s, for instance, Japanese satsuma oranges were so eagerly anticipated in Canada that the Port of Vancouver held public celebrations when they were unloaded.
Now, of course, customers can simply go to a grocery store and buy boxes at a time without a second thought to the complex nature of how they came to be in their hands. Non-perishable goods are even easier to come by, requiring the click of a few buttons to get them across countries and seas right to your doorstep. Need a specialized service from someone working in a region hundreds of thousands of miles away? No problem; technology has that solution covered.
As trade evolves, so do the job roles that support it
Put simply, the movement of goods and services across borders has evolved at a breathtaking pace. Alongside these transformations, the teams that make global commerce possible have grown in both size and sophistication. What was once the domain of a few specialists now involves entire departments dedicated to logistics, technology, supply chain, and trade compliance, the latter being a job area that has recently seen incredible growth.
Compliance specialization is booming
“Companies with greater than 15% expected growth allocate an average of eight people to trade compliance activities, compared to six in companies anticipating little or no growth,” states a 2025 benchmark study by
This increase can be attributed to many factors, from geopolitical shifts and tariff policies to shipping disruptions and natural disasters.
The World Economic Forum also highlights this shift in their paper, Trade Compliance for Leadership, stating, “Non-compliance with new trade requirements could affect hundreds of billions of dollars of trade flows. The stakes are high: compliance safeguards business continuity, avoids supply chain disruption and can be a competitive advantage. It also mitigates the risks of penalties and reputational damage.”
Customs roles are also becoming a C-suite discussion
Other trade roles seeing expansion include those focused on customs.
“Customs will be used as a business strategy, becoming an important C-Suite level discussion point to navigate the ever-complex international trade waters,” notes a
With a growing web of tariffs, counter-tariffs, and shifting regulations worldwide, importers and exporters must manage their classification codes, documentation, and compliance procedures with precision—or else risk costly penalties and delays.
And then, there is AI
Virtually all areas of business, including global trade, are being touched by artificial intelligence and associated technologies. In fact, “The global AI in logistics and supply-chain market size was valued at USD 20.1 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 25.9 % between 2025 and 2034,” states a report by Global Market Insights. And these technologies are focused on improving operational cost, streamlining logistics planning, and managing real-time supply chain efficiency—but only if teams are trained on how to operate these new technologies.
Agility, accuracy, and technology: core focuses for trade teams
All in all, in 2026, trade teams need to lean their roles toward technology, compliance, and risk planning for resiliency.
The World Economic Forum notes in their Future of Jobs Report that “The most prominent skills differentiating growing from declining jobs are anticipated to comprise resilience, flexibility, and agility; resource management and operations; quality control; programming, and technological literacy.”
That sets the stage for roles like trade-compliance analyst, customs strategy lead, global trade-technology architect, and import/export risk manager—titles once rare, but now increasingly common.
A simple browse of current job postings finds top companies like Amazon hiring for Global Trade Compliance PMs or Global Customs Ops Analysts, requiring candidates to have the skills to build scalable trade-compliance programs and broker networks. While grocery chains like Loblaws are looking for Customs and Trade Analysts, roles focused on import and export clearance and risk.
Globally, there are thousands of jobs focused on customs and international trade compliance, including many on
Offshoring, nearshoring, and re-shoring: strategies to mitigate volatility
With increasingly unpredictable supply chains, companies are also rethinking where and how they allocate their trade teams. Offshoring, nearshoring, and re-shoring have become hot-topic strategies in this conversation—each offering clear advantages and trade-offs.
- Offshoring refers to relocating production or services to a distant country, often to reduce labour costs or take advantage of specialized expertise. It can yield significant cost savings and access to global talent, but also exposes firms to geopolitical risks, shipping delays, and reduced control over quality and oversight.
- Nearshoring involves shifting operations or sourcing to a nearby country or region—one that lies closer in geography, culture, or time zone. The proximity allows for faster communication, shorter transit times, and improved responsiveness to market shifts, though it may come with slightly higher labour and logistics costs compared to far-off locations.
- Re-shoring (or on-shoring) brings previously relocated operations back home, offering the greatest control, supply-chain transparency, and resilience against global disruptions. However, domestic production typically comes with higher costs, and the process of re-establishing facilities and workforces can be both expensive and time-consuming.
Together, these strategies reflect a broader recalibration of global trade—one that weighs efficiency against resiliency, and cost against certainty. What businesses choose to employ depends on their needs and goals, but they will all have to consider the risky environment in which they exist:
“Geoeconomic fragmentation and geopolitical tensions are expected to drive business-model transformation in one-third (34 %) of surveyed organizations in the next five years. Over one-fifth (23 %) of global employers identify increased restrictions on trade and investment … as factors shaping their operations,” states the World Economic Forum in their job report, pinpointing the need for businesses to be prepared from all angles.
Training is a unifying factor for all roles
At the heart of these workforce transitions lies a single, unifying factor—the need for continual training and upskilling. Finding employees with a new set of in-demand skills isn’t something that happens overnight. Most often, it starts with giving current teams training to upgrade their knowledge to current-day trends.
“If the world’s workforce was made up of 100 people, 59 would need training by 2030. Of these, employers foresee that 29 could be upskilled in their current roles and 19 could be upskilled and redeployed elsewhere within their organization. However, 11 would be unlikely to receive the reskilling or upskilling needed, leaving their employment prospects increasingly at risk,” warns the WEF.
Lora Rigutto, Partnerships and Community Lead at FITT, agrees. She personally sees how training benefits companies and employees working in international trade daily:
“I’ve seen how upskilling and trade training can change the trajectory of both employers and employees. Many who complete FITT’s international trade training go on to work in government, policy, and business at some of the world’s leading organizations, while others use that knowledge to grow their own SMEs.”
What really stands out is the value of having a CITP®—someone with a broad, practical understanding of international trade who can connect the full A-to-Z process, from market entry and compliance to sales and growth strategy. Whether in a large enterprise or a small business just getting started, that ability to see the whole picture and bring in accredited knowledge created by business for business, along with industry best practices and frameworks—makes a meaningful difference.”
The world is changing, but resiliency will always remain a strength
In 2025, it may seem like our world is changing faster than ever. But it’s important to put these shifts into perspective. Only 100 years ago, we were still delivering some products by horse and buggy. 50 years ago, we were sending customs documents via fax machines, and just 25 years ago, the biggest technological threat that dominated the headlines was Y2K. The point being, the world has always been in a state of rapid change, but those who flourish in it, no matter the challenge, remain aware, prepared, and upskilled for those changes.
Curious about current job roles in trade? Below is a list of popular trade jobs that companies currently hire for:
See active international trade job listings here
International Trade Consultant: Advises companies on entering new markets or expanding globally including assessing tariffs, trade agreements, and regulatory risks and recommending supply chain and market entry strategies
Export Manager: Responsible for planning, executing, and overseeing a company’s sales of goods or services into foreign markets; a mix of strategy, operations, and relationship management
Commodity Trader: Buys and sells commodities, such as agricultural products or metals, on international markets.
Economist: Analyzes data and develops theories related to the production and circulation of goods, services, and resources in a global context.
Data Analyst: Analyzes data for companies to help inform business decisions, which can include international market data.
Logistics and supply chain
- Freight Forwarder: Manages the transportation of goods, including coordinating shipments, choosing carriers, and negotiating terms.
- Logistics Specialist: Handles the planning and management of international logistics, including warehousing and last-mile delivery.
- Customs Clearance Specialist: Processes paperwork for inbound and outbound shipments to ensure goods clear customs without delays.
- Ocean/Air Export/Import Coordinator: Manages the specific details of export or import shipments via sea or air freight.
Sales, marketing, and business development
- International Sales and Partnerships Manager: Develops and manages relationships with international partners and clients.
- International Marketing Manager: Creates and implements marketing strategies for products and services in global markets.
- Business Development Manager: Focuses on expanding a company’s business through new markets, partnerships, and services, often within a specific sector like freight forwarding.
Compliance and analysis
- Trade Compliance Specialist/Manager: Ensures a company’s operations adhere to all trade regulations, sanctions, and export/import laws.
- Customs Broker: Acts as an intermediary between businesses and government customs agencies, navigating complex regulations to facilitate the movement of goods.
- International Trade Analyst: Conducts research and analysis to help companies make informed decisions about global markets and trade policies.
- Policy Analyst: Researches and analyzes policy outcomes, which can be applied to trade policies and social issues.
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