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Those engaged in geospatial business activities have reason to be optimistic about the future.
Revenues from the public sector lead geospatial market growth and account for more than one-third of total revenue. While federal governments were among the early adopters of GIS technology, recent trends toward devolving more responsibilities to states and localities have spurred those entities to become important consumers of GIS. While industries in the regulated sector, such as utilities, telecommunications, transportation and education, are the largest consumers of GIS/geospatial solutions, private-sector growth remains dependent upon business adoption based on the added-value these technologies provide. (Daratech, GIS/Geospatial Markets and Opportunities)
U.S. Federal IT market will surpass $93 billion by 2020, growing at CAGR 3% period between 2015-2020. Growth of 31% is anticipated by 2020. (Market Research Media Ltd)
GIS/Geospatial sales up 10.3% to US$4.4 billion Growth forecast to top 8.3% in 2011 (Directions Magazine)
Geospatial products and specialists are expected to play a large role in homeland security activities. Information gathering needs to protect critical infrastructure have resulted in an enormous increase in the demand for such skills and jobs. (Lorraine Castro, NIMA Human Resources Department)
Because the uses for geospatial technology are so widespread and diverse, the market is growing at an annual rate of almost 35 percent, with the commercial subsection of the market expanding at the rate of 100 percent each year. (Geospatial Information & Technology Association)
Emerging occupations within the geospatial technology industry require developing competency models for new applications of geospatial technology. Aligning training in geospatial applications with industry developed competency models is essential to developing the necessary pipeline of skilled workers. This approach is necessary for preparing entry-level workers with basic skills to ensure career success.
Increasing demand for readily available, consistent, accurate, complete and current geographic information and the widespread availability and use of advanced technologies offer great job opportunities for people with many different talents and educational backgrounds. (U.S. Geological Survey and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) This reality also presents a challenge for employers in an employment market that has changed from a surplus of prospective employees to a decrease of available talent. (GeoSearch, Inc.)
In order to meet industry growth requirements employers need to examine alternatives to the traditional pipeline. These alternatives include recruiting young workers through apprenticeship and high school/college dual-enrollment-dual-credit agreements as well as tapping nontraditional labor pools to diversify the workforce. (U.S. Department of Labor)
In June 2003, The Employment and Training Administration (ETA) announced the High Growth Job Training Initiative to engage businesses with local education providers and the local/regional workforce investment system to find solutions that address changing talent development needs in various industries.
In October 2005, the Community-Based Job Training Grants were announced to improve the role of community colleges in providing affordable, flexible and accessible education for the nation’s workforce.
The Employment and Training Administration (ETA )is investing more than $260 million in 26 different regions across the United States in support of the WIRED (Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development) Initiative. Through WIRED, local leaders design and implement strategic approaches to regional economic development and job growth. WIRED focuses on catalyzing the creation of high skill, high wage opportunities for American workers through an integrated approach to economic and talent development.
These initiatives reinforce ETA’s commitment to transform the workforce system through engaging business, education, state and local governments, and other federal agencies with the goal of creating a skilled workforce to meet the dynamic needs of today’s economy.
ETA has invested over $8,367,110 in the geospatial industry. This includes six High Growth Job Training Initiative grants totaling $6,438,653 and one multi-industry Community-Based Job Training Grant totaling $1,928,457. Leveraged resources from all of the grantees total $7,132,543.
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