Where are all the GIS Jobs Going?

There have been several layoffs over the last few months due to declining oil and gas prices and trends toward more cost effective management practices. This includes many mergers in the Oil and Gas sector by operators and vendors alike.

This has left many GIS professionals looking for jobs. For those looking in the current market right now, it is imperative to consider market trends and where the field is going. As companies merge, layoffs are typical. This occurs mostly where there is department overlap and overhead cost consideration. GIS falls directly into this category.

This trend can be seen in the following mergers of Oil, Gas and Energy companies:

• Over the last two years Kinder Morgan, Inc. (KMI) has worked on the merger of all Kinder Morgan companies under KMI into one of the largest conglomerates in North America and the $3 Billion Hiland Acquisition.
• The merger of Palmetto Engineering of Dallas, Texas and CT&T, of North Little Rock, Arkansas last year.
• Energy Transfer Company just completed its merger with Regency Energy Partners and has been trying to buy Williams with rumors for merger deals with Oneok and Targa resources.
• Williams is already planning to merge Williams Cos. with Williams Partners, LP and is also increasing its equity interest in Utica East Ohio Midstream LLC.
• The recent acquisition of Eagle Mapping Information Systems, Inc. by G2 Partners last December.

This is just the start of these large mergers as more companies try to stave off debt and compete in the international markets. Despite this growing trend The Bureau of Land Management expects a projected 14% job growth, from 54,000 jobs in 2012 to 61,300 jobs by 2022. Despite there being fewer companies to offer jobs. This is due to easier access of geospatial data by the regular consumer through products such as Google Earth and ArcGIS Online. The data used to fuel these applications from behind the scenes will still need creators, administrators and analysts.

As the Geospatial community career trend moves to online web mapping, cloud hosting and 3D visualization more people will have the ability to use geospatial data. OGSpace forecasts a decline in the average power user or the typical GIS analyst position as the end user has easier access to create, process, analyze and report on their own data relevant to their work. As the field grows and changes, it will require more specific knowledge, skills and abilities that many professionals have not developed over the changing technology – whether through habit or budget restraints.

With the availability of free training, GIS offered in high school, and open source GIS platforms becoming more available, the newer workforce will be more adapt to the advancing technology. This promotes a competitive environment as the retirement of older workers positions will need to be filled. While the older generation will still be able to compete for jobs, it will require more personal investment and re-education to the evolving industry standards as less companies exist to apply to.

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Map Technology Takes Center Stage in San Diego

More than 16,000 people from 120 countries around the world are expected to converge in San Diego, California, to discuss the power of maps and applying geography at the 2015 Esri User Conference (Esri UC). The Esri UC and related events will take place from July 18–24, featuring a variety of speakers from a presidential candidate to global first responders. Attendees will share ideas and best practices for improving our world through maps.

Other featured speakers will include operations staff from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, executives from JPMorgan Chase, the director of Strategic Cooperation at the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), and the president and CEO of the National Geographic Society. Former Maryland governor Martin O'Malley headlines a list of innovators from across every industry who will demonstrate how geospatial technology can make government smarter, combat global health challenges, ensure public safety, and drive greater revenues for businesses.

Before the Esri UC even kicks off, a series of concurrent events related to business; education; national security; architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC); and 3D mapping will take place July 18 and 19 in and around the San Diego Convention Center. These focused events will give attendees a deeper dive into various functional areas and equip them with an action plan to immediately invigorate their own organizations.

Throughout the week, more than 1,000 users will deliver presentations detailing how GIS helps their organizations in a number of ways. Whether they're onstage for Monday's Plenary Session or leading one of the nearly 300 moderated paper sessions, speakers will share lessons learned and best practices that can help their peers succeed.

The National Geographic Society will be on hand to continue celebrating the organization's 100 years of making maps. A chronicle of the history of maps and the American presidency, from future President Dwight Eisenhower carrying maps into battle during World War II to President Barack Obama receiving official presidential maps in the White House, will present the art and science of where. Gary E. Knell, president and CEO of the National Geographic Society, will also speak at the Plenary Session about the importance of geography in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education.

From hundreds of expert-led technical workshops to the expansive GIS Solutions EXPO featuring more than 300 technology companies and start-ups, attendees will immerse themselves in the latest and greatest in mapping and spatial analysis. Attendees will find a range of demos, talks, and resources about hot topics—big data, 3D visualization, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and more.

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