The U.S. Department of Labor (USDL) does not provide an employment outlook for decision scientists, but it does offer a prediction for the related career of operations research analysts, who use complex mathematical and analytical methods to help solve a variety of issues. Employment for operations research analysts is projected to increase 23 percent from 2023 to 2033, much faster than the average for all occupations. “As technology advances and companies seek efficiency and cost savings, demand for operations research analysis should continue to grow,” according to the USDL. “More companies are expected to employ operations research analysts to help them turn data into information that managers use to make decisions about all aspects of their business.”
The sheer volume of data that is now generated—and the use of artificial intelligence to better organize and assess this information—will create strong demand for decision scientists. They will increasingly be hired to help companies and organizations use data to make better decisions. Decision scientists who have a wide understanding of the various departments that help a business or organization operate, as well as industry-specific knowledge (e.g., health care, electronics manufacturing), will have the best job prospects.
- Accountants
- Agricultural Consultants
- Arbitrators
- Auditors
- Automotive Dealership Owners
- Bank Examiners
- Billing Clerks
- Bookkeeping and Accounting Clerks
- Budget Analysts
- Business Continuity Planners
- Business Development Managers and Directors
- Business Intelligence Analysts
- Business Managers
- Buyers
- Chief Customer Officers
- Chief Executive Officers
- Chief Financial Officers
- Chief Information Officers
- Chief Information Security Officers
- Chief Restructuring Officers
- Chief Revenue Officers
- Chief Robotics Officer
- Chief Sustainability Officers
- Chief Trust Officers
- Client Services Managers
- Collection Workers
- Community Health Program Coordinators
- Compliance Managers
- Continuous Improvement Managers
- Corporate Climate Strategists
- Corporate Community Relations Directors
- Corporate Lawyers
- Corporate Librarians
- Cost Estimators
- Cultural Advisers
- Customer Service Directors
- Customer Service Representatives
- Customer Success Managers
- Customs Brokers
- Data Entry Clerks
- Data Scientists
- Database Specialists
- Digital Workplace Experience Engineers
- Directors of Corporate Sponsorship
- Directors of Security
- Document Management Specialists
- Economists
- Energy Consultants
- Entrepreneurs
- Environmental Consultants
- Ergonomists
- Ethical Sourcing Officer
- Event Planners
- Executive Recruiters
- Fashion Models' Agents
- Financial Analysts
- Financial Consultants
- Financial Quantitative Analysts
- Forensic Accountants and Auditors
- Franchise Owners
- Fraud Examiners, Investigators, and Analysts
- Health Care Consultants
- Health Care Managers
- Health Club Owners and Managers
- Health Data Analysts
- Human Resources Consultants
- Human Resources Managers
- Indoor Environmental Health Specialists
- Information Security Analysts
- Information Technology Consultants
- Information Technology Infrastructure Engineers
- Information Technology Security Consultants
- Internet Consultants
- Internet Executives
- Internet Marketing and Advertising Consultants
- Internet Store Managers and Entrepreneurs
- Internet Transaction Specialists
- Labor Union Business Agents
- Learning Innovations Designers
- Legal Operations Specialists
- Life Coaches
- Loss Prevention Managers
- Management Analysts and Consultants
- Market Research Analysts
- Marketing Consultants
- Music Agents and Scouts
- Music Venue Owners and Managers
- Office Administrators
- Payroll Directors
- Personnel and Labor Relations Specialists
- Political Consultants
- Press Secretaries
- Product Designers
- Professional Organizers
- Project Managers
- Proposal Managers
- Public Relations Specialists
- Purchasing Agents
- Receptionists
- Regulatory Affairs Managers
- Regulatory Affairs Specialists
- Sales Managers
- Sales Representatives
- Secretaries
- Security Consultants
- Security Guards
- Space Tourism Managers
- Statisticians
- Stenographers
- Strategy Managers
- Tax Managers
- Temporary Workers
- Traffic Managers
- Typists and Word Processors
- Workplace Diversity Experts