Geographic Information Systems Specialists

The U.S. Department of Labor predicts that employment for geographers, including geographic information systems specialists, will increase by 3 percent through 2028, but opportunities for those using geographic information systems will be better. The outlook for GIS specialists in environmental work, emergency services (fire and police rescues), energy, and homeland defense is strong. GIS maps, drawings, animations, and other cartographic images will allow scientists, researchers, and public safety officials to view geographic information in new ways. Variations can be tracked over time and possible future changes can be projected and rendered visually. Environmental planning will be another significant area of growth for GIS technology, and federal and local government agencies will continue to be the primary employers of GIS specialists. Private sector opportunities may see some growth in areas such as health care, real estate, retail marketing, tourism, agriculture, and telecommunications.