Mitigating Burnout in Supply Chain Management: The Role of Job Skills Training and Voluntariness

Burnout is a leading contributor to turnover among supply chain management (SCM) professionals, yet research examining interventions to mitigate burnout in this high-pressure industry remains limited. Drawing on the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) model, this study explores the role of job skills training in reducing employee burnout in SCM roles. Using survey data from 208 full-time U.S.-based SCM professionals, the study investigates whether the amount of job skills training received is associated with lower levels of burnout, and whether this relationship is moderated by the voluntary nature of training. Results supported the hypothesis that higher levels of job skills training are significantly associated with lower burnout. Additionally, the effect of training was stronger when participation was voluntary. A supplemental analysis revealed that perceived overtraining, receiving more training than desired, was associated with increased burnout, suggesting that misaligned training may act as an additional job demand. These findings contribute to the growing literature on SCM employee well-being and underscore the importance of designing tailored, voluntary training programs as strategic interventions to reduce burnout. Implications for practice and future research directions are discussed.