According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics occupations in the geospatial industry are expected to experience faster than average employment growth in the coming years. Indeed, GIS jobs have increased in numbers in the past few years as more companies and organizations are using GIS in various ways.

GIS, which stands for geographic information systems, stores, displays, and analysis geographic data. The power of GIS is that it can be used in a variety of ways across various industries and disciplines. GIS can not only be used to create maps but allows for advanced spatial analysis that can be used for decision making. More and more organizations are discovering the power and usefulness of GIS. From emergency management, to retail location selection, to conservation, organizations are investing and using GIS, and its role inside these organizations is growing.

Today most public agencies use GIS in one way or another and an increasing number of private companies are currently using or have started to implement a GIS. Because of this and because GIS software has become more user friendly the geospatial industry has been growing at a steady pace. This has led to an increase demand for qualified GIS professionals. It seems that even during the recession GIS job postings remained constant as organizations tried to find skilled job candidates to fill needed positions.

One of the most important aspects of gaining a GIS job is to be skilled in the use of the software. Gaining experience in using GIS is the key to starting a career in this field. This can be accomplished by taking some classes at a community college or university. Now, an increasing number of colleges and universities offer GIS courses and even advanced degrees. As GIS continues to grow, universities have added GIS programs to their curriculum and this benefits those interested in a career in GIS. Also, many GIS software vendors offer training courses using their software, this is very practical since entry-level GIS positions are skill dependant.

When starting a career in GIS, internships should not be overlooked as they offer valuable experience and a way to start getting exposed to the industry. This in combination with academic coursework is a good way to start a career in GIS and be able to obtain a full time job. For those who enjoy geography and computers GIS can be a rewarding career with many choices and options available. GIS is a broad field and one can specialize in a number of different areas such as programming or database design as well as work in a variety of industries.

Good sources for GIS jobs are online GIS job boards. There are now a number of online job sites that specialize in GIS and provide good resources for both job seekers and employers. These resources should be taken advantage of.




Leonel Gerardo Torres is the author of this article on GIS Jobs. Find more information, about GIS career services here