“The GIS Jobs field is booming; firms specializing in computer-driven map analysis are hosting conventions, holding hiring fairs, and developing specialized software.” Fast Company article – Google Maps Help Predict Meth Labs Before They Open. http://bit.ly/zw4e0B “Experts in the growing field of geospatial predictive analytics use cutting-edge algorithms and data analysis techniques that can do everything from predicting terrorist activity to preventing auto theft.” GIS jobs generate from this kind of demand!

The U.S. Department of Labor recently reported a gain in job openings to 3.4 million at the end of December and a decrease in the unemployment rate to 8.3%. GIS Job aggregation engines have reported a higher number of job openings and that is consistent with the overall picture. SimplyHired.com has released its February 2012 Employment Outlook highlighting national and local markets, as well as industry and employer trends. Nationwide, job openings increased slightly in the first month of 2012, up 1.5% month-over-month and 9.2% year-over-year. Fifteen of 18 industries experienced job growth in January. Industries with significant month-over-month growth include nonprofit (27.9%), hospitality (17.0%), and legal (12.6%).

GIS Day promotes awareness of geographic information systems (GIS) technology throughout our world. GeoSearch promotion of GIS jobs and awareness is a year-long initiative. GIS Day Events can be found in more than 80 countries participating with corporate open houses, government hosted hands-on workshops, community expos, school assemblies, and more. GIS Day is principally sponsored by the National Geographic Society, the Association of American Geographers, University Consortium for Geographic Information Science, the United States Geological Survey, The Library of Congress, Sun Microsystems, Hewlett-Packard, and Esri.

Geospatial employers need highly skilled, well seasoned senior-level IT manager’s that know GIS and have expertise in planning, implementing, and evaluating the effectiveness of systems, infrastructure, and staffing. Technical Skills could include ESRI’s ArcGIS, MapInfo Pro, Thematic mapping, Object operations, Feature editing, registration & conflation, Aerials & raster layer integration, ODBC connections & Data translation, Grid Contouring & Math/Queries, AnySite/AnySite Online, MapBasic, ArcGIS ModelBuilder, Google mashup and Geocoding API, MapPoint OCX Mapping/geocoding, or Allocate/pCensus/GeoVue.

At the top of the GIS Jobs list, geospatial employers are searching for GIS Software Developers to create readable maps. Job seekers that know a mix of programs, including ArcGIS Software, Oracle Spatial, software server applications, C++, and other GIS (Geographic Information Systems) are in top demand. Candidates that have used geospatial data to construct 3-D GIS applications in a virtual reality CAVE (Cave Automatic Virtual Environment) system for visual analysis and assessment will continue to be in demand for some time to come.

The GEOINT 2011 Symposium (focused on promoting the geospatial intelligence tradecraft) kicked off with a pre-symposium on Sunday the 16th of October. Forums that explore the current state-of-the-art and future of wide area motion imagery (WAMI), full-motion video (FMV) platforms, and Mobile GEOINT Applications sessions inspired the day. Further, the “Future of GEOINT Professional Development” and Socio-Cultural Dynamics: “An Overview from a Diplomacy, Development, Defense and Intelligence Perspectives” rounded out the topical theme. However, it was the Six Flags Over Texas GEOINT 2011 Welcome Reception at Sunset Station that pumped up the party. Sponsored by Northrop Grumman, dozens of chartered busses transported conference attendees and sponsors to an outdoor venue with live music, Texas cuisine, and dancing. Off the bus, a mariachi band welcomed participants. Inside, one guitar player and other stringed music played Mexican style tunes. However, the headline band was Cactus Country, a cover band that played oldies, some rock, but mostly top chart country music. Line dancing with instruction ensued.

October 17, the Expo Hall opened at 11:00. Exhibits rage from giant organizations like Google, SAIC, Lockheed Martin, and Oracle to core geospatial organizations like Woolpert and Blue Marble Geographics. The term booth doesn’t fit this exhibit showcase. Some structures are two stories high, complete with a staircase to the 2nd floor. Huge video screens are on display with imagery that can be manipulated by touch. Large leather sofa’s and coffee tables allow participants to relax while taking in a demonstration. One vendor had a tall, beautiful, blond offering an authentic shoe shine atop an antique wooden shoe shine chair. Among the crowd walking the floor was the President of Continental Mapping Dave Hart. Brant Howard, founder of CompassCom and Hayden Howard, CompassData field services manager. Mark Safran Senior Manager at BAE, Joe Francica the Editor, Directions Magazine and Shawana Johnson of Global Marketing Insights.

This is the place to be to tap into the geospatial intelligence community of interest between government, industry, academic, and professional organizations. Cleared geospatial talent has always been in demand and GeoSearch has sourced that demographic for over a decade. The market demand for this group is increasing as fast as the technology is changing.