Business Continuity Planners

The employment outlook is bright for business continuity planners. Nature will continue to bring disruptions to everyday life, and certain regions of the country are prone to particular weather events, such as hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding, and droughts. With each event, federal, state, and local governments as well as a variety of companies will assess the emergency management response and business continuity strategies to improve upon them and be better prepared for the next disruption. According to the Department of Labor and the Occupational Information Network (O*NET), business continuity planners and emergency management directors will have 3 percent employment growth through 2032, which is about as fast as the average.

Budgetary constraints in local and state governments may limit some employment growth of continuity planners, but planners will still be needed to help create continuity procedures and strategies. Jobs will also open up due to planners and emergency management directors retiring from the field. Competition will be keen, however, for the job openings that exist. Continuity planners with a bachelor's degree or higher, prior work experience, and certification will have the edge in the job market.