Government & professional reports

Key findings (15)

• cloud_adoption68.5% of organisations run spatial analysis in the cloud. — stabilised since 2024 after years of rapid growth - plateau signal
• hiring46% report hiring spatial experts is difficult or very difficult. — figure has remained stubbornly high across multiple editions; pairs with AGI 2023 34% pay barrier and DSIT 30k workforce baseline
• ai_adoption31% have invested in AI tools; 18% have no plans to adopt AI; 45% use AI as individual productivity tool; 18.3% have AI embedded in organisational processes. — AI adoption breakdown 2026 - heavy productivity-tool tilt vs embedded systems
• tool_fragmentationTeams rely on 3 to 8 tools to complete work. — fragmentation is the named primary challenge
• integration30% of respondents cite data access and integration delays as primary obstacles. — data-pipeline friction in the analytical layer
• ai_adoption31% of organizations have invested in AI tools for spatial analytics, a figure that has stabilized since 2024. — 2026 State of Spatial Analytics Report
• ai_adoptionThe share of organizations with no plans to adopt AI in spatial analytics has grown to nearly 18%. — 2026 State of Spatial Analytics Report
• ai_adoptionNearly 45% of respondents report using AI as an individual productivity tool in spatial analytics. — 2026 State of Spatial Analytics Report
• ai_adoptionOnly 18.3% of respondents say AI is embedded into organizational processes for spatial analytics. — 2026 State of Spatial Analytics Report
• cloud_adoption68.5% of organizations now run spatial analysis in the cloud, a figure that has stabilized since 2024. — 2026 State of Spatial Analytics Report
• skillsNearly 46% of respondents say hiring spatial experts is difficult or very difficult. — 2026 State of Spatial Analytics Report
• sector_compositionMost teams rely on between three and eight tools to get spatial analytics work done. — 2026 State of Spatial Analytics Report
• growthPredictions for geospatial in 2028 are available in the full report. — 2026 State of Spatial Analytics Report
• employmentExpectations for GIS roles now commonly span cloud workflows, coding, data engineering, modeling, and business communication. — 2026 State of Spatial Analytics Report
• sector_compositionNearly 30% of respondents report that data access and integration delays are the primary obstacle holding their teams back in spatial analytics. — 2026 State of Spatial Analytics Report

Suggested citation

CARTO (2026). The State of Spatial Analytics 2026. CARTO.

Key findings (30)

• sector_sizeThe survey reached 232 stakeholders across six global regions, with over 70% of responses from Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America. — Global survey on the future geospatial information ecosystem
• sector_compositionOf the responses gathered, 41% came from public agencies, directly reflecting on-the-ground implementation challenges. — Global survey on the future geospatial information ecosystem
• growthThe rapid development of machine learning, large language models (LLMs), deep learning, cloud computing, and AI is accelerating this transformation and exerting a profound, lasting influence on the broader digital ecosystem. — Digital transformation trends
• ai_adoptionThe future geospatial information ecosystem must be equipped to meet these demands, ensuring that geospatial systems contribute meaningfully to the Sustainable Development Goals and future development agendas. — Role of geospatial systems in addressing global challenges
• cloud_adoptionEmerging technologies, such as AI, the Internet of Things (IoT), digital twins, and blockchain, are reshaping how geospatial data is generated, managed, and used. — Technological advancements impacting geospatial data
• governanceTo be effective, governance must now evolve to become adaptive, anticipatory and inclusive. — Future geospatial information ecosystem governance
• governanceA shared Global Geospatial Knowledge Governance Framework, co-developed and endorsed by Member States, would be essential. — Global coordination for geospatial governance
• methodologyThe paper draws extensively from discussions and conclusions of the Bureau and its dedicated writing team. — Development of the position paper
• methodologyIt incorporates insights from audience contributions during webinar consultation sessions held in 2025 and the results of the future geospatial information ecosystem survey. — Information gathering for the position paper
• skillsThere was a strong consensus on the urgent need for interoperability, legal data standardization, and investment in AI/ML and GIS skills. — Key issues identified in stakeholder input
• sector_compositionKey issues that emerged include siloed institutional systems, gaps in legal frameworks, disparities in skills and capacity, barriers to partnerships, and the uneven accessibility of emerging technologies like AI and blockchain. — Challenges identified in stakeholder input
• growthThe future geospatial information ecosystem represents a transformative evolution in the management, integration, and utilization of geospatial information in an increasingly complex and interconnected world. — Evolution of the geospatial information ecosystem
• governanceFuture geospatial governance must evolve to be adaptive, anticipatory, and inclusive, moving beyond traditional centralized models. — Section 6.1.1
• governanceExpanding governance involves linking national strategies with global frameworks, building multi-actor structures, and embedding governance across all levels. — Section 6.1.2
• governanceA shared Global Geospatial Knowledge Governance Framework is essential for common principles, equitable AI use, and reducing the digital divide. — Section 6.1.3
• governanceStep Change: Evolve governance models from static structures to adaptive ecosystems, integrating with AI, cybersecurity, and open data domains. — Section 6.1.4
• governanceStrategic Shifts: Embed foresight and AI-readiness into institutional processes for anticipatory governance. — Section 6.1.4
• governanceStrategic Shifts: Shift from data access to equitable knowledge access, focusing on actionable insights. — Section 6.1.4
• governanceStrategic Shifts: Establish inclusive governance engaging civil society, academia, and the private sector. — Section 6.1.4
• governanceStrategic Shifts: Broaden geospatial governance to intersect with AI, cybersecurity, and digital economy domains. — Section 6.1.4
• governanceStrategic Shifts: Evolve governance models to be flexible, responsive, and capable of continuous adaptation. — Section 6.1.4
• regulatoryRethinking legal frameworks is necessary for the future geospatial information ecosystem to enable rights-based innovation and trust. — Section 6.2.1
• regulatoryPolicy evolution for a knowledge-centric ecosystem requires foundations for digital trust and equity. — Section 6.2.2
• regulatoryStep Change: Policy and Legal frameworks must adapt to enable rights-based innovation and digital trust. — Section 6.2.4
• regulatoryStrategic Shifts: Rethink legal frameworks to support data sovereignty, interoperability, and ethical AI. — Section 6.2.5
• regulatoryStrategic Shifts: Develop policies that foster open data, promote digital equity, and ensure data protection. — Section 6.2.5
• sector_sizeThe future geospatial information ecosystem requires rethinking finance to unlock new models for sustainable and equitable investment. — Section 6.3.1
• sector_sizeStep Change: Financial strategies must innovate for sustainable and equitable investment in the geospatial ecosystem. — Section 6.3.4
• sector_sizeStrategic Shifts: Develop innovative financing models, including public-private partnerships and data cooperatives. — Section 6.3.5
• sector_sizeStrategic Shifts: Build a strong business case for investment in geospatial data and infrastructure. — Section 6.3.5

Suggested citation

United Nations (2025). Positioning the Future Geospatial Information Ecosystem. UN-GGIM 15th Session.

Key findings (15)

• employment27% of respondents indicated the skills shortage is at a critical level, with a further 60% suggesting it is providing a challenge for businesses. — Figure 1
• employment57% of respondents cited reduced work capacity as the most frequent impact of the skills shortage. — Figure 2
• employment68% of quantity surveying and construction professionals reported that the skills shortage is leading to reduced work capacity. — Figure 3
• demographics75% of respondents identified an ageing workforce with high retirement rates and a lack of new entrants as a key driver of skills shortages. — Figure 4
• recruitmentInternships and apprenticeships were identified as the most effective way for RICS and regulated firms to attract younger generations to the profession. — Figure 5
• skills55% of respondents believe business skills, such as communication and report writing, are lacking in new entrants to the profession. — Figure 6
• skills59% of respondents cited advanced digital tools, such as AI and machine learning, as a key emerging skill for surveyors in the next 5-10 years. — Figure 7
• ai_adoptionTwo-thirds of respondents agreed that AI will help surveyors deliver greater value in the future, with only 4% disagreeing strongly. — Figure 8
• ai_adoption51% of respondents rejected the assertion that they have concerns about the impact of AI on their own role. — Figure 9
• ai_adoption56% of respondents rejected the assertion that they feel overwhelmed by how quickly technology is changing the surveying profession. — Figure 9
• employmentIn the UK, construction and the built environment sector are estimated to account for around 20% of GDP. — Introduction
• employmentA total of 2,339 RICS members responded to the global skills survey. — Introduction
• employmentBetween 20% and 30% of respondents in each of the four broad regions (Americas, APAC, Europe, MEA) saw the skills shortage as critical. — Current landscape
• skills45% of respondents indicated that upskilling the existing workforce is an important part of addressing the skills shortage. — Addressing the skills shortfall
• skills59% of respondents cited advanced digital tools, such as AI and machine-based learning, as a key emerging skill for surveyors in the next 5-10 years. — Future skills

Suggested citation

Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (2025). Surveying Skills Report 2025. RICS.

Key findings (30)

• ai_adoption86% of employers expect AI and information processing technologies to transform their business by 2030. — Figure 1.2
• ai_adoptionGenerative AI (GenAI) has seen a rapid surge in investment and adoption, with demand for GenAI skills growing significantly. — Box B1.1
• growthBy 2030, 78 million jobs are expected to be created due to labour-market transformation, a net growth of 7% of total employment. — Figure 2.1
• growthMacrotrend-driven creation of new jobs is estimated to be 170 million jobs by 2030, equivalent to 14% of today's total employment. — Figure 2.1
• growthThe displacement of 92 million current jobs is expected by 2030 due to labour-market transformation, representing 8% of total employment. — Figure 2.1
• trendBroadening digital access is expected to be the most transformative trend, with 60% of employers anticipating it will transform their business by 2030. — Figure 1.1
• trendRising cost of living ranks as the second most transformative trend overall, with 50% of employers expecting it to transform their business by 2030. — Figure 1.1
• trendClimate-change mitigation is the third-most transformative trend overall, with 47% of employers expecting it to transform their business. — Figure 1.1
• trendGeoeconomic fragmentation and geopolitical tensions are expected to drive business model transformation in 34% of surveyed organizations in the next five years. — Figure 1.1
• trendAging and declining working-age populations are expected to transform businesses for 40% of employers worldwide. — Figure 1.5
• trendGrowing working-age populations are expected to transform businesses for 25% of employers worldwide. — Figure 1.5
• skillsAnalytical thinking is the most sought-after core skill, considered essential by 7 out of 10 companies in 2025. — Key findings
• skillsAI and big data are the fastest-growing skills, followed by networks and cybersecurity, and technology literacy. — Key findings
• skills59% of the world's workforce will need training by 2030, with 29% upskilled in current roles and 19% redeployed. — Key findings
• recruitmentSkill gaps are identified as the biggest barrier to business transformation by 63% of employers over the 2025-2030 period. — Key findings
• growthBy 2030, 170 million new jobs are projected to be created, equivalent to 14% of today's total employment. — GLOBAL, by 2030
• growth92 million current jobs, or 8% of total employment, are expected to be displaced by 2030. — GLOBAL, by 2030
• growthA net growth of 78 million jobs, representing 7% of today's total employment, is anticipated by 2030. — GLOBAL, by 2030
• growthThe total number of jobs created and displaced due to macrotrends will represent 22% of today's total formal jobs by 2030. — GLOBAL, by 2030
• growthBig Data Specialists, FinTech Engineers, and AI and Machine Learning Specialists are among the fastest-growing job roles by 2030. — GLOBAL, by 2030
• growthRoles such as Postal Service Clerks, Bank Tellers, and Data Entry Clerks are projected to be among the fastest declining jobs by 2030. — GLOBAL, by 2030
• growthBy 2030, 35 million more Farmworker jobs are expected, driven by green transition trends. — GLOBAL, by 2030
• growthPersonal Care Aides are expected to see significant growth over the next five years, driven by demographic trends. — GLOBAL, next five years
• growthUniversity and Higher Education Teachers are predicted to be among the biggest job creators in absolute terms over the next five years. — GLOBAL, next five years
• growthBroadening digital access is expected to create 19 million jobs and displace 9 million jobs by 2030. — GLOBAL, by 2030
• growthAI and information processing technologies are expected to create 11 million jobs and displace 9 million jobs by 2030. — GLOBAL, by 2030
• growthRobotics and autonomous systems are expected to be the largest net job displacer, with a net decline of 5 million jobs by 2030. — GLOBAL, by 2030
• growthClimate change adaptation is projected to contribute an additional 5 million net jobs globally by 2030. — GLOBAL, by 2030
• growthGrowing working-age populations are expected to be the second-biggest driver of global net job creation, adding 9 million jobs by 2030. — GLOBAL, by 2030
• growthSlower economic growth is the only macrotrend expected to drive more job destruction (3 million jobs) than creation (2 million jobs) by 2030. — GLOBAL, by 2030

Suggested citation

World Economic Forum (2025). The Future of Jobs Report 2025. Geneva: WEF.

Key findings (30)

• sector_sizededicated geospatial companies in the UK generating over £6 billion in annual turnover — UK geospatial sector
• employmentproviding employment for over 30,000 people — UK geospatial sector
• sector_sizesecuring over £1 billion in equity investment since 2016 — UK geospatial sector
• recruitmentnearly 80% of organisations having recruited within the last six months — AGI Skills Survey
• growthMore than 60% of those who have recently recruited, cited a higher demand for geospatial services within the business as the reason — AGI Skills Survey
• recruitment77% of organisations surveyed, expect to recruit in the near future — AGI Skills Survey
• skillscore data skills, such as analysis, processing and manipulations, as top of their requirement list — AGI Skills Survey recruitment expectations
• retentionThe majority of organisations surveyed say they are also able to retain staff — AGI Skills Survey
• retentionorganisations who are unable, or only partly able, to retain staff and those who are looking to recruit, cite pay as a barrier — AGI Skills Survey
• salarypay as a barrier and this was especially prominent within the public sector — AGI Skills Survey retention and recruitment barriers
• skillswith the emergence and adoption of new technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning it may be harder to attract candidates with these skills — AGI Skills Survey
• sector_sizeDedicated geospatial companies in the UK generate over £6 billion in annual turnover. — 2025 report
• employmentThe UK geospatial sector provides employment for over 30,000 people. — 2025 report
• sector_sizeThe UK geospatial sector has secured over £1 billion in equity investment since 2016. — 2025 report
• employmentNearly 80% of organisations surveyed have recruited within the last six months. — AGI Skills Survey
• growthMore than 60% of recently recruiting organisations cited higher demand for geospatial services as the reason. — AGI Skills Survey
• employment77% of organisations surveyed expect to recruit in the near future. — AGI Skills Survey
• skillsCore data skills, such as analysis, processing, and manipulations, are the top recruitment requirement. — AGI Skills Survey
• retentionThe majority of organisations surveyed are able to retain staff, citing company culture and career progression. — AGI Skills Survey
• salaryPay is cited as a barrier to recruitment and retention, especially in the public sector. — AGI Skills Survey
• skillsAttracting candidates with AI and Machine Learning skills may be harder due to competition with other sectors. — AGI Skills Survey
• sector_compositionThe UK is ranked second in the global geospatial readiness index. — 2025 report
• trainingAGI will connect survey results to university course offerings and apprenticeships. — 2025 report
• trainingAGI will link survey results to programmes aiming to professionalise the sector through competency frameworks. — 2025 report
• governanceAGI will use survey results to inform action by government and other stakeholders. — 2025 report
• methodologyThe report is based on the results of AGI's first survey of skills, drawing on feedback from its membership and partners. — AGI Skills Survey
• geographicThe report highlights issues and trends relating to recruitment, retention, and talent development in the GB geospatial sector. — 2025 report
• forecast77% of organisations expect to recruit in the near future. — AGI Skills Survey
• recommendationAGI will take survey results to make connections to pathways at all stages of the geospatial sector value chain. — 2025 report
• trendThere is emergence and adoption of new technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in the sector. — AGI Skills Survey

Suggested citation

Association for Geographic Information (2025). Skills Requirement in the £Billion Geospatial Sector. AGI.

Key findings (6)

• salaryJob postings including AI skills offer 28% higher salaries — nearly $18,000 more per year — than those without such capabilities. — 1.3 billion postings analysed; published 23 July 2025
• ai_adoptionAI-skills demand has shifted beyond the tech industry; the salary premium now applies cross-sector. — cross-industry diffusion of AI skills
• methodologyAnalysis based on 1.3+ billion job postings - the largest AI-skills dataset published. — Lightcast corpus, 2024-2025
• employmentIn 2024, over half of job postings requesting AI skills were outside IT and Computer Science. — 2024
• salarySalaries for postings that mention AI skills are 28% higher than postings that do not, representing roughly $18,000 more per year. — 2024
• skillsThe AI Skills Disruption Matrix plots skills based on their rate of growth and overall value, color-coded by AI exposure (white for low, blue for medium, purple for high). — AI Skills Disruption Matrix

Suggested citation

Lightcast (2025). Beyond the Buzz: Developing the AI Skills Employers Actually Need. Lightcast.

Key findings (30)

• otherOGC Standards are internationally recognized specifications that power location data—from legacy web services to modern OGC APIs. — OGC Standards overview
• otherOGC is a trusted global community where innovators, governments, and industry come together to solve shared geospatial challenges. — OGC mission statement
• otherOGC provides the standards that keep systems aligned, integrated, and mission-ready for Defense & Intelligence. — Industries We Serve: Defence & Intelligence
• otherOGC standards enable interoperable, data-driven Smart City solutions. — Industries We Serve: City Management & Urban Planning
• otherOGC standards help integrate sensor, satellite, and in-situ data to boost productivity and sustainability in Agriculture. — Industries We Serve: Agriculture
• otherOGC standards such as LandInfra/InfraGML and IndoorGML ensure smooth integration across the entire infrastructure lifecycle. — Industries We Serve: Built Environment & Infrastructure
• otherOGC standards form the backbone of effective Spatial Data Infrastructures (SDIs) for National and Regional Governments. — Industries We Serve: National and Regional Governments
• otherThe MUDDI standard provides a unified framework for managing sub-surface information for Utilities. — Industries We Serve: Utilities
• otherOGC enables interoperability and a shared space to advance geospatial research for Academia & Research. — Industries We Serve: Academia & Research
• otherOGC standards help BI platforms access and integrate the expanding world of interoperable geospatial data. — Industries We Serve: Business Intelligent
• otherOGC standards enable consistent, effective data and web services for Meteorology & Oceanography. — Industries We Serve: Meteorology & Oceanography
• otherOGC supports the marine community with long-standing standards and solutions for managing marine geospatial data. — Industries We Serve: Marine
• cloud_adoptionOGC standards are evolving to support the shift from human-intervention systems to systems that communicate directly with each other. — From Research to Implementation: Building Shared Infrastructure for an Automated World
• governanceOGC is a trusted global community where innovators, governments, and industry collaborate to solve shared geospatial challenges. — About OGC
• infraOGC standards are essential for building a Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI). — Common Challenges in Geospatial Integration
• governanceOGC convenes a worldwide community to drive interoperability through standards, code sprints, innovation testbeds, pilots, and real-world deployments. — Programs
• regulatoryOGC is seeking public comment on the candidate BigTIFF Standard, which includes 64-bit TIFF and GeoTIFF. — Request For Comment (RFC)
• trainingOGC offers individual membership to connect with global experts and shape open geospatial standards. — OGC Individual Membership
• governanceOGC standards are internationally recognized specifications that power location data, from legacy web services to modern OGC APIs. — Open Standards for Location Data
• governanceOGC standards provide the trusted, open foundation for reliable collaboration of geospatial data, services, and systems across technologies, organizations, and borders. — Standards
• governanceOGC Compliance ensures products and services meet rigorous, industry-accepted standards for seamless integration within the global geospatial ecosystem. — Compliance
• governanceOGC Research brings members together to explore emerging geospatial technologies and address real-world challenges through collaborative testbeds, pilots, and applied experimentation. — Research
• geographicOGC events are scheduled in London, UK (May 11-13, 2026) and Helsinki, Finland (June 1-4, 2026). — In the Spotlight
• governanceAgora is the OGC community platform for members to connect, work together, access resources, and participate in discussions and collaboration spaces. — MEMBER COMMUNITY - Step into Agora
• governanceOGC standards are deeply embedded in Canada's spatial data infrastructure, empowering collaboration and ensuring data accessibility, reliability, and future-readiness. — Testimonials - Eric Loubier, NRCan
• cloud_adoptionThe OGC is focused on how geospatial data and processing offerings must change as the world moves towards automated systems. — From Research to Implementation: Building Shared Infrastructure for an Automated World
• governanceMembers of the public can review candidate standards and provide feedback to ensure practicality and wide applicability. — Open Calls and Requests
• trendThe geospatial industry is transitioning from human-intervention systems to directly communicating systems, requiring changes in data and processing standards. — From Research to Implementation: Building Shared Infrastructure for an Automated World
• trendGeospatial data integration is a critical bottleneck in building Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI). — Common Challenges in Geospatial Integration
• trendThe value of geospatial data is contingent on its ability to be integrated and understood. — Real-World Challenges, Evolving Standards: The MUDDI Story

Suggested citation

Open Geospatial Consortium (2025). Cloud-Native Geospatial Standards Portfolio. OGC.

Key findings (4)

• trendThe AGI Foresight Report 2030 will provide a visionary view of trends and influences over the next five years and beyond. — AGI Foresight Report 2030
• trendThe report explores six transformative forces shaping the geospatial sector: the Data Imperative, AI Integration Challenge, Infrastructure Evolution, Collaboration Imperative, Earth Systems Revolution, and Skills Revolution. — AGI Foresight Report 2030
• trendThe AGI Foresight Conference 2025 was curated to support the launch of the Foresight Report. — AGI Foresight Conference 2025
• trendThe AGI Foresight Conference 2025 challenged the geospatial community to transition from speciality domain to critical infrastructure. — AGI Foresight Conference 2025

Suggested citation

Association for Geographic Information (2025). AGI Foresight Report 2030. AGI.

Key findings (14)

• growthIndustries most able to use AI have 3x higher growth in revenue generated by each employee. — Analysis of job ads and financial reports across six continents
• growthSince 2022, productivity growth in industries best positioned to adopt AI has nearly quadrupled. — Analysis of job ads and financial reports across six continents
• salaryWorkers with AI skills like prompt engineering command a 56% wage premium, up from 25% last year. — Analysis of job ads and financial reports across six continents
• ai_adoption100% of industries are expanding their usage of AI, including those less obviously exposed like mining and construction. — Analysis of job ads and financial reports across six continents
• growthSkills sought by employers are changing 66% faster in occupations most exposed to AI versus least exposed. — Analysis of job ads and financial reports across six continents
• salaryWages are growing 2x faster in industries most exposed to AI versus least exposed. — Analysis of job ads and financial reports across six continents
• employmentJob numbers are growing in virtually every AI-exposed occupation, with only two exceptions globally. — Analysis of job ads and financial reports across six continents
• employmentJob numbers are growing more slowly in occupations more exposed to AI (38% growth in the past five years) versus less exposed (65% growth). — Analysis of job ads and financial reports across six continents
• employmentJob numbers are growing for both automatable and augmentable jobs in all industries. — Analysis of job ads and financial reports across six continents
• skillsEmployer demand for formal degrees is declining faster for AI-exposed jobs. — Analysis of job ads and financial reports across six continents
• skillsAutomatable roles are experiencing the greatest skills disruption, with average net skill change of 3.9. — Analysis of job ads and financial reports across six continents
• employmentJob openings requiring AI skills grew 7.5% last year, while total job postings fell 11.3%. — Analysis of job ads and financial reports across six continents
• growthRevenue per employee has skyrocketed since 2022 and is growing 3x faster in industries most exposed to AI versus least. — Analysis of job ads and financial reports across six continents
• demographicsIn every country analyzed, more women than men are in AI-exposed jobs. — Analysis of job ads and financial reports across six continents

Suggested citation

PricewaterhouseCoopers (2025). The Fearless Future: PwC's 2025 Global AI Jobs Barometer. PwC.

Key findings (2)

• sample_sizeSurvey reached over 10,000 developers worldwide. — fielded December 2024 to February 2025
• methodologyPartnership between CNCF and SlashData using the Developer Nation survey panel. — recurring quarterly cadence

Suggested citation

Cloud Native Computing Foundation and SlashData (2025). State of Cloud Native Development Q1 2025. Linux Foundation.

Key findings (3)

• community_sizeCNG Conference 2025: over 250 attendees from more than 100 organisations. — community-size proxy for CNG adoption
• practitioner_profile45% of attendees are senior technical professionals already working with geospatial data. — movement is mid-career engineers, not greenfield
• adoptionSTAC became an OGC standard in 2025; production users of GeoParquet include Overture Maps, Microsoft Planetary Computer, Google Open Buildings (2.2B footprints), Foursquare (100M+ POIs) and Source Cooperative (1PB+). — shift from experimental to production

Suggested citation

Cloud-Native Geospatial Foundation (2025). CNG Conference 2025 Proceedings. Radiant Earth.

Key findings (7)

• trendFive named trends: hyper-granular spatial analysis, privacy and security, AI integration, technology stack adaptation, cross-team collaboration. — thematic taxonomy 2025
• sectorsIndustry contributors named from insurance, telecom, retail, food service (KFC), advisory (Deloitte) and water security. — sector breadth
• trendHyper-granular spatial analysis is helping industries like insurance, telecom, and retail make smarter decisions. — Key trends shaping geospatial analytics
• trendPrivacy and security are becoming critical concerns for geospatial data. — Key trends shaping geospatial analytics
• ai_adoptionAI is changing geospatial analytics with talking maps, smarter imagery, and faster pattern detection. — Key trends shaping geospatial analytics
• trendAdapting geospatial tech stack, strategies, and collaboration across teams are key to staying ahead. — Key trends shaping geospatial analytics
• trendInsights from industry leaders at KFC, Deloitte, and Global Water Security Center are included. — Key trends shaping geospatial analytics

Suggested citation

CARTO (2025). Spatial Analysis in 2025: Key Trends. CARTO.

Key findings (30)

• employmentAs of 2026, there are over 14,000 active GIS-related job postings on Indeed alone. — 2026 job postings on Indeed
• salaryThe average GIS salary in 2026 is approximately $79,639 per year. — 2026 average salary
• salaryAverage GIS salary is $75,010/yr but earnings rapidly increase with developer and administrator skills. — 2026 average salary
• skillsPython, ArcGIS, and AI skills are the most in-demand technical competencies in GIS job listings. — 2026 in-demand skills
• skillsThe most in-demand GIS skills in 2026 include proficiency in ArcGIS and AutoCAD, Python programming (especially with libraries like GeoPandas, rasterio, and scikit-learn), data science, cloud computing (AWS and Azure), SQL, and increasingly, AI and machine learning for spatial analysis. — 2026 in-demand skills
• growthThe GIS industry is healthy, growing, and expanding into new domains. — 2026 outlook
• ai_adoptionEmployers are seeking GIS professionals with AI literacy, including LLM workflows, machine learning for spatial analysis, and geospatial automation. — 2026 employer demand
• ai_adoptionThe ability to build and deploy geospatial ML models and automate workflows is a fast-growing area of employer demand. — 2026 employer demand
• geographicTop hiring states include California, Texas, Colorado, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina. — 2026 top hiring states
• recruitmentBest ways to break into GIS: internships, networking, and building portfolios with web GIS, Python, or AI-driven projects. — 2026 entry strategies
• sector_sizeThere are currently over 14,000 job postings on Indeed that are asking for GIS skills. — 2026 job postings on Indeed
• salarySenior-level GIS positions will often offer salaries above $80,000. — Senior-level salary estimate
• employmentThere are over 14,000 active GIS job postings on Indeed.com as of 2026. — 2026
• salaryThe average GIS salary is $79,639/year, with higher earnings for those with developer, administrator, and AI skills. — 2026
• geographicTop hiring states for GIS professionals include California, Texas, Colorado, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina. — 2026
• recruitmentInternships, networking, and building portfolios with web GIS, Python, or AI-driven projects are the best ways to break into GIS. — 2026
• growthAI is projected to eliminate 92 million jobs globally by 2030 but create 170 million new ones, with GIS benefiting from automation. — by 2030
• trendThe GIS job market is active, evolving, and increasingly technical. — 2026
• salaryThe average GIS salary is $75,010/yr, with earnings rapidly increasing with developer and administrator skills. — 2026
• skillsKey geospatial roles require skills like knowing CRMs, databases, or graphic design, in addition to core GIS competencies. — 2026
• skillsEmployers seek candidates with web GIS, system integration, and agile management skills for upper experience levels. — 2026
• skillsThe most commonly requested software packages for geospatial roles include AutoCAD and ArcGIS. — 2026
• skillsDemand is rising for a blend of GIS with cloud computing or data science skills, often leading to higher salaries. — 2026
• skillsProficiency in Python for geospatial automation (GeoPandas, Rasterio, scikit-learn) is a core AI skill in demand. — 2026
• skillsThere is rapidly growing demand for working with large language models (LLMs) and AI agents to automate geospatial workflows. — 2026
• skillsCloud computing (AWS, Azure), SQL, and data pipelines are becoming essential as GIS systems scale. — 2026
• skillsThe most valuable professionals combine GIS knowledge with AI, automation, and data engineering to design end-to-end spatial solutions. — 2026
• employmentThe American Infrastructure Renewal Act has injected substantial funding into sustainable infrastructure projects, boosting GIS demand. — 2025
• trendThere is a rise in remote GIS jobs, indicating organizations are successfully attracting skilled professionals while promoting work-life balance. — 2026
• recruitmentInternships provide real-world project experience and often a direct pathway to full-time GIS roles. — 2026

Suggested citation

BootcampGIS (2025). GIS Jobs Report 2025. BootcampGIS.

Key findings (30)

• growthGNSS and EO combined global revenues are set to increase from more than €260 billion in 2023 to nearly €590 billion by 2033. — Executive Summary
• growthCumulative global GNSS downstream market revenues over the 2023 to 2033 period are expected to surpass €4.5 trillion. — Executive Summary
• growthGlobal GNSS downstream market revenues will rise from €260 billion in 2023 to around €580 billion in 2033. — Executive Summary
• growthThe market for GNSS devices is expected to grow from around €70 billion in 2023 to almost €120 billion in 2033. — Executive Summary
• growthThe GNSS added-value service market will experience rapid growth, with revenues foreseen to soar from around €190 billion in 2023 to more than €460 billion in 2033. — Executive Summary
• growthAnnual shipments of GNSS devices are forecasted to rise from 1.6 billion units in 2023 to 2.2 billion units in 2033. — Executive Summary
• growthThe installed base of GNSS devices is forecast to reach almost 9 billion units by 2033. — Executive Summary
• growthEO global revenues are expected to grow from €3.4 billion in 2023 to almost €6 billion in 2033. — Executive Summary
• growthValue-added EO services revenues are estimated to account for €2.8 billion in 2023 and are expected to grow to almost €5 billion by 2033, experiencing a CAGR of 6%. — Executive Summary
• growthRevenues from EO data sales amounted to around €600 million in 2023 and are set to increase to almost €1 billion in 2033. — Executive Summary
• growthThe Insurance and Finance segment will grow to become the leading contributor to global EO revenues, reaching almost €900 million in 2033. — Executive Summary
• growthIn 2023, the global revenues from EO data and value-added services amounted to €3.4 billion. — Market Overview
• growthBy 2033, the overall revenues of the global EO data and value-added services market are projected to reach nearly €6 billion. — Market Overview
• growthRevenues generated from EO data alone in 2023 amounted to almost €600 million across all segments. — Market Overview
• growthThe EO data market is expected to see a CAGR of 5% by 2033, resulting in total revenues of almost €1 billion. — Market Overview
• growthThe EO value-added services market is expected to experience a CAGR of almost 6%, achieving total revenues of almost €5 billion by 2033. — Market Overview
• sector_compositionIn 2023, almost half of the total EO revenues are generated by the top three segments: Climate, Environment and Biodiversity, Agriculture, and Urban Development and Cultural Heritage. — Market Overview
• sector_compositionThe Insurance and Finance segment will grow to become the leading contributor to global EO revenues by 2033. — Market Overview
• sector_compositionIn 2023, North America accounted for almost 50% of EO revenues, followed by Europe (above 20%) and Asia-Pacific (slightly less than 20%). — Market Overview
• sector_compositionIn 2023, North America leads the EO industry with 43% of market share, followed by Europe with 44%. — EO Industry
• sector_compositionEuropean companies accounted for around 35% of the EO data processing market in 2021. — EO Industry
• sector_compositionIn 2021, North American companies led the EO data processing market with 55% share, driven by large companies like AWS, Alphabet, and Maxar. — EO data processing market share - 2021
• sector_compositionEurope held a 35% market share in EO data processing in 2021, with significant presence in Aviation, Climate, Environment, and Biodiversity, and Insurance and Finance segments. — EO data processing market share - 2021
• sector_compositionEurope commanded over 50% of the global market for EO analysis, insights, and decision support in 2021. — EO value chain analysis, insights and decision support market share - 2021
• sector_sizeThe European EO services sector comprised 772 companies in 2022, an increase of 3.5% from the previous year. — EARSC Industry Survey 2023
• growthCompanies offering EO services or supplying data generated €1.7 billion in revenues in 2022, a 10.9% increase from 2021. — EARSC Industry Survey 2023
• sector_compositionApproximately 96% of European EO companies had less than 50 employees in 2022, with 66% having less than 10. — EARSC Industry Survey 2023
• cloud_adoption58% of EO companies indicated ease of access to data as the most important reason for using certain platforms, highlighting the importance of cloud-based solutions. — EARSC 2022 survey
• sector_compositionThere are around 30 existing or planned Copernicus Contributing Missions, complementing Sentinel data. — Copernicus Contributing Missions
• sector_compositionNine European Emerging CCM data providers are under contract with ESA, supplying multispectral and hyperspectral images. — Copernicus Contributing Missions

Suggested citation

EU Agency for the Space Programme (2024). EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report 2024. EUSPA.

Key findings (30)

• growthGlobal economic growth has slowed in 2019, and it is expected to remain low leading to a decrease in the global economy by 2030. — Global economic outlook
• demographicsIt is projected that by 2030, there will be 38 megacities with populations of over 10 million and rising. — Population change and shift in values
• growthIt is expected that large cities will continue to be the major drivers of any growth in national GDP. — Economic outlook
• ai_adoptionAmong the variety of technological trends, there is general consensus across the industry that automation, Artificial Intelligence, and connectivity through 5G will have the greatest disruptive impact over the short to medium-term. — Executive Summary
• growthThe use of technology and analytical methods has the potential to reduce the geospatial digital divide over the decade to come. — Executive Summary
• growthThe geospatial industry is increasingly influenced by global mega-trends like urbanisation, population growth, and digitisation that are contributing to the long-lasting impact of these developments. — Drivers and trends in geospatial information management
• growthAs the number of digital devices increases - from smartphones and watches to autonomous vehicles connected to the Internet of Things - the volumes and value of data will continue to grow exponentially. — Drivers and trends in geospatial information management
• growthThe speed of urbanisation and the recognition that managing the consequences and realising the opportunities requires geospatial data is leading to a propensity of city municipalities to buy in high quality geospatial services and insights rather than develop the capability in-house from scratch. — Drivers and trends in geospatial information management
• cloud_adoptionThe cloud computing model is rapidly becoming the established model for those working with medium and large-scale data sets. — Cloud computing
• skillsIn terms of skillsets, automation and Artificial Intelligence applications will enable employees to be freed up from monotonous tasks that machines take over enabling the workforce to upskill or reskill to perform higher value tasks. — Industry structural shift
• ai_adoptionOne of the biggest opportunities for the geospatial industry over the next ten years is Artificial Intelligence - particularly, image analysis and information extraction. — The potential of Artificial Intelligence in geospatial production
• growthFully automated change detection and pattern recognition within geospatial production is predicted to be achieved in the next five to ten years. — The potential of Artificial Intelligence in geospatial production
• trendThe geospatial industry is increasingly influenced by global mega-trends like urbanisation, population growth, and digitisation. — Section 1.2.1
• trendThe pace of change and the dynamic global environment significantly impact the need for high-quality geospatial information. — Section 1.1.1
• trendGeopolitical uncertainty is rising and is anticipated to remain a source of risk for economies. — Section 1.1.3
• trendGlobal economic growth slowed in 2019 and is expected to remain low, potentially decreasing by 2030. — Section 1.1.5
• trendLarge cities are expected to continue as the major drivers of national GDP growth. — Section 1.1.6
• trendPopulations are becoming more urbanised, with an estimated 730 million people living in cities by 2030. — Section 1.1.7
• trendThe number of people aged 60 years or over is projected to grow globally. — Section 1.1.7
• trendSmartphones are ubiquitous, with two-thirds of the world's households owning one. — Section 1.1.8
• trendDigital connectivity underpins most technological advances, enabling emerging economies to leapfrog fixed-line infrastructure. — Section 1.1.9
• trendThe volume and value of data will continue to grow exponentially as the number of digital devices increases. — Section 1.1.10
• trendClimate change impacts continue to devastate lives, communities, and economies globally. — Section 1.1.11
• trendDemand for natural resources like water and food production is growing, increasing environmental problems. — Section 1.1.11
• trendGeospatial information and technology have been applied to combat and mitigate climate change impacts. — Section 1.1.11
• trendGovernments and businesses are investing significantly in mitigating and preparing for climate change effects. — Section 1.1.12
• trendConnectivity is the single most important enabler of digital transformation over the next 10 years. — Section 2.1.1
• trend5G mobile communication enables large amounts of data transmission at high speed, changing geospatial operations. — Section 2.1.1
• trendThe digital divide and digital exclusion remain key barriers to ubiquitous global digital transformation. — Section 2.1.4
• trendOngoing urbanisation will have a major impact on cities worldwide, requiring new or managed infrastructure. — Section 2.2.2

Suggested citation

United Nations (2024). Future Trends in Geospatial Information Management, Third Edition. UN-GGIM.

Key findings (6)

• methodologyThis is the 9th EARSC survey on the state of the Earth observation (EO) industry in Europe, with previous surveys conducted in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023. — 9th survey
• methodologyThe survey provides annual updates, making this the fifth in a series of annual updates to offer continuous information on the EO industry's state and health in Europe. — fifth annual update
• methodologyThe date of each survey refers to the year of the survey, with data drawn from the previous year. — data collection period
• methodologyThe EARSC industry survey is described as a crucial tool for monitoring the evolution of the EO sector. — purpose of the survey
• trendThe EARSC industry survey has been conducted annually since 2020, with previous surveys in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022, and 2023. — 9th EARSC survey
• trendThis marks the fifth annual update in a series providing continuous information on the European EO services industry. — 2024 survey

Suggested citation

European Association of Remote Sensing Companies (2024). Industry Survey 2024. EARSC.

Key findings (30)

• sector_sizeThe geospatial sector in Australia is estimated to add around $17 billion in value, with surveying and mapping comprising approximately $4.4 billion. — IBIS World, 2023
• sector_compositionGeospatial information is considered to be at the heart of big data, with approximately 80% of the world's information potentially depicted or analysed spatially. — Chapter 2.1
• growthThe economic impact of modern geospatial information services on Australia's GDP in 2023-24 is estimated to be $38,568 million higher than it would have otherwise been. — 2023-24
• growthThe impact of geospatial information services on GDP is projected to be $62,394 million higher in 2033-34 under a business-as-usual scenario. — 2033-34, BAU scenario
• growthUnder a favourable operating environment, the impact of geospatial information services on GDP is projected to be $89,514 million higher in 2033-34. — 2033-34, Favourable operating environment
• growthThe impact on employment from geospatial information services is projected to be an additional 12,114 FTE jobs in 2023-24. — 2023-24
• growthUnder a business-as-usual scenario, employment in the geospatial sector is projected to increase by an additional 21,674 FTEs in 2033-34. — 2033-34, BAU scenario
• growthA favourable operating environment could lead to an additional 31,849 FTE jobs in the geospatial sector by 2033-34. — 2033-34, Favourable operating environment
• growthThe undiscounted economic impact on output is projected to be $689 billion over the period 2023-24 to 2033-34. — 2023-24 to 2033-34
• growthThe undiscounted impact on real income is projected to be $565 billion over the period 2023-24 to 2033-34. — 2023-24 to 2033-34
• growthEmployment is projected to be higher by 21,700 FTE jobs on average over the period 2023-24 to 2033-34. — 2023-24 to 2033-34
• growthWestern Australia is projected to have the highest impact on gross state product in 2033-34 under the most favourable case, reaching $24.8 billion. — 2033-34, Favourable case
• growthThe mining sector is projected to experience the largest impact on output over the 2023-24 to 2033-34 period, with an increase of $161 billion. — 2023-24 to 2033-34
• growthThe government sector is projected to see an increase in output of $72 billion over the 2023-24 to 2033-34 period due to geospatial services. — 2023-24 to 2033-34
• growthThe construction sector is projected to have an output increase of $55 billion over the 2023-24 to 2033-34 period from geospatial services. — 2023-24 to 2033-34
• ai_adoptionMachine learning and artificial intelligence are used to analyse geospatial data captured from LIDAR surveys to highlight critical areas for maintenance attention. — early stages of adoption
• sector_compositionTerrestrial imagery and LIDAR, GIS, and geospatial analysis are the dominant technologies used by survey respondents. — Figure 2.3
• ai_adoptionMachine learning and AI are increasingly used to combine, share, and analyse geospatial data for better services. — Finding 1
• sector_compositionGovernment is a significant user of geospatial information, with 16 responders indicating active sourcing of EOS, GIS, GNSS, RTK, SouthPan, imagery, LIDAR, ML/AI, analytics, and visualisation. — Section 3.2
• sector_sizeLocalised productivity impacts from geospatial information in government range from 11% in coastal activities to 50% in cadastral data management. — Section 3.2
• sector_sizeThe benefits delivered by NEXIS and AIEP are estimated to be around $30 million per year, with a net present value of $300 million over 15 years. — Section 3.2.1
• sector_sizeEarth observation data delivers benefits in terms of avoided costs of bushfires of $16.5 million per year. — Section 3.2.1
• sector_sizeThe NSW Emergency Coordination Unit delivers a $97.2m benefit to NSW Government in data processing overhead. — Section 3.2.1
• sector_sizeThe economic damages from climate change are quantified as $584.5 billion in 2030, $762 billion in 2050, and over $5 trillion cumulatively by 2100. — Section 3.2.2
• sector_sizeGeoscape Buildings, comprising over 16 million buildings, is a critically important data source supporting research and analysis for planners and policymakers. — Section 3.2.2
• sector_sizeThe Census generated $6 for every $1 spent on its activities, playing a critical role in improving Australia’s economic and social infrastructure. — Section 3.2.3
• sector_sizeThe Geocoded National Address File (GNAF) has a current value of $1.4 billion in NPV terms. — Section 3.2.3
• sector_sizeNSW School Infrastructure estimates a 45% reduction in time to deliver a strategic business case, saving $202 million over 10 years. — Section 3.2.3
• sector_sizeThe Pilbara regional spoke of the Shared Environmental Analytics Facility is expected to deliver $1.4 billion NPV in quantified direct regional benefits over 10 years. — Section 3.2.2
• growthAdoption of spatial digital twins is expected to continue at 100% as their use grows. — Spatial digital twin activity

Suggested citation

Geospatial Council of Australia + ACIL Allen (2024). Economic Impact of Geospatial Services in Australia. GCA, Canberra.

Key findings (30)

• employment13,400 jobs in the US in 2024. — OEWS May 2024 national estimate
• salary$78,380 median annual wage (May 2024). — OEWS national; SOC 17-1021
• projectionEmployment projected to grow 6% from 2024 to 2034 (faster than the average for all occupations). — BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034
• openingsAbout 1,000 openings per year on average over the projection decade. — replacement + growth combined
• qualificationMost positions require a bachelor's degree in cartography, geography, geomatics, surveying, engineering, or a related field; some states require photogrammetrists to be licensed surveyors. — BLS How to Become section
• demand_driverDemand is driven by GIS adoption, autonomous-vehicle mapping, and urban-planning applications. — BLS Job Outlook section
• salaryThe median annual wage for cartographers and photogrammetrists was $78,380 in May 2024. — May 2024
• salaryThe median hourly wage for cartographers and photogrammetrists was $37.68 in May 2024. — May 2024
• trainingA bachelor's degree in cartography, geography, geomatics, surveying, or a related field is the typical entry-level education. — Typical Entry-Level Education
• trainingNo work experience in a related occupation is typically required for entry-level positions. — Work Experience in a Related Occupation
• trainingNo on-the-job training is typically required for entry-level positions. — On-the-job Training
• sector_sizeThere were 13,400 jobs for cartographers and photogrammetrists in 2024. — 2024
• growthEmployment of cartographers and photogrammetrists is projected to grow 6% from 2024 to 2034. — 2024-34
• growthThis growth rate of 6% is faster than the average for all occupations. — 2024-34
• growthAbout 900 jobs are projected to be added for cartographers and photogrammetrists from 2024 to 2034. — 2024-34
• employmentAbout 1,000 openings for cartographers and photogrammetrists are projected each year, on average, over the decade 2024-34. — 2024-34
• employmentMany job openings result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force. — 2024-34
• employmentThe use of maps for government planning is expected to lead to employment growth in this field. — Employment Projections
• employmentCartographers and photogrammetrists will be needed to map areas requiring help during natural disasters, often using GIS. — Employment Projections
• sector_compositionLocal government, excluding education and hospitals, was the largest employer of cartographers and photogrammetrists in 2024, accounting for 41% of jobs. — 2024
• sector_compositionArchitectural, engineering, and related services employed 18% of cartographers and photogrammetrists in 2024. — 2024
• sector_compositionManagement, scientific, and technical consulting services employed 7% of cartographers and photogrammetrists in 2024. — 2024
• sector_compositionThe federal government employed 4% of cartographers and photogrammetrists in 2024. — 2024
• sector_compositionState government, excluding education and hospitals, employed 4% of cartographers and photogrammetrists in 2024. — 2024
• salaryThe median annual wage for cartographers and photogrammetrists in the federal government was $106,950 in May 2024. — May 2024
• skillsImportant qualities for cartographers and photogrammetrists include communication, computer, critical-thinking, detail-oriented, and problem-solving skills. — Important Qualities
• employmentCartographers and photogrammetrists held about 13,400 jobs in 2024. — 2024
• growthEmployment of cartographers and photogrammetrists is projected to grow 6 percent from 2024 to 2034. — 2024-34
• sector_compositionLocal government, excluding education and hospitals, employed the largest share (41%) of cartographers and photogrammetrists in 2024. — 2024
• trainingCartographers and photogrammetrists typically need a bachelor's degree and require no work experience or on-the-job training for entry-level positions. — Typical Entry-Level

Suggested citation

US Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024). Occupational Outlook Handbook: Cartographers and Photogrammetrists. SOC 17-1021. May 2024 OEWS.

Key findings (30)

• employment1,500 jobs in the US in 2024. — OEWS May 2024 national estimate
• salary$97,200 median annual wage (May 2024). — OEWS national; SOC 19-3092
• projectionEmployment projected to decline 3% from 2024 to 2034. — BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034
• openingsAbout 100 openings per year on average over the projection decade. — replacement + growth combined
• qualificationMost positions require a bachelor's degree in geography, GIS, or a related field; advanced research roles typically require a master's or PhD. — BLS How to Become section
• salaryThe median annual wage for geographers was $97,200 in May 2024. — May 2024
• salaryThe median hourly wage for geographers was $46.73 in May 2024. — May 2024
• trainingA bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for geographers. — 2024
• trainingNo work experience in a related occupation is typically required for entry-level geographer positions. — 2024
• trainingNo on-the-job training is typically required for geographers. — 2024
• sector_sizeThere were 1,500 jobs for geographers in 2024. — 2024
• growthEmployment of geographers is projected to decline by 3% from 2024 to 2034. — 2024-2034
• employmentAbout 100 openings for geographers are projected each year, on average, from 2024 to 2034. — 2024-2034
• employmentThe projected openings for geographers are expected to result from workers transferring to other occupations or exiting the labor force. — 2024-2034
• sector_compositionThe largest employer of geographers was the federal government (excluding postal service) at 68% in 2024. — 2024
• sector_compositionEducational services employed 12% of geographers in 2024. — 2024
• sector_compositionState government (excluding education and hospitals) employed 11% of geographers in 2024. — 2024
• sector_compositionProfessional, scientific, and technical services employed 5% of geographers in 2024. — 2024
• skillsGeographers need analytical skills to draw conclusions from data. — General
• skillsProficiency in GIS programming, database management, and data visualization is crucial for geographers. — General
• skillsGeographers require strong communication skills to write reports and present findings to diverse audiences. — General
• skillsCritical-thinking skills are important for geographers to choose appropriate data, methods, and scale of analysis. — General
• salaryThe median annual wage for geographers in the federal government was $107,580 in May 2024. — May 2024
• salaryThe median annual wage for geographers in professional, scientific, and technical services was $73,250 in May 2024. — May 2024
• salaryThe median annual wage for geographers in state government was $71,650 in May 2024. — May 2024
• salaryIn May 2024, geographers in the federal government earned a median annual wage of $107,580. — Federal government, excluding postal service, May 2024
• employmentGeographers held about 1,500 jobs in 2024. — 2024
• employmentThe federal government, excluding the postal service, employed the largest share of geographers at 68% in 2024. — 2024
• growthEmployment of geographers is projected to decline 3 percent from 2024 to 2034. — 2024-34
• recruitmentAll projected openings for geographers are expected to result from the need to replace workers transferring to other occupations or exiting the labor force. — 2024-34

Suggested citation

US Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024). Occupational Outlook Handbook: Geographers. SOC 19-3092. May 2024 OEWS.

Key findings (30)

• otherGeo Week 2024 brought together a remarkable assembly of professionals from across the globe, with over 3,400 registrants hailing from 45 different countries. — Geo Week 2024 attendance
• trainingASPRS organized eight workshops on February 11, with over 340 registrants. — Geo Week 2024 workshops
• otherThe Geo Week Joint Award Ceremony recognized the outstanding contributions of seven ASPRS professionals. — Geo Week 2024 awards
• otherThe conference boasted a vibrant exhibit hall featuring around 200 exhibitors. — Geo Week 2024 exhibit hall
• recruitmentone of my primary goals is to work with SAC and ECPC to increase student engagement within ASPRS, thereby broadening our member base. — ASPRS Presidential goals
• demographicsWhile in mid-2000 ASPRS had few female role models, now the society includes more female members and leaders. — ASPRS gender representation over time
• demographicsIn the past decade, the society had 4 female presidents including myself. — ASPRS female presidents
• otherThe ASPRS Fellow Award includes a lapel pin and a certificate. — ASPRS Fellow Award recognition
• trainingThe Estes Memorial Teaching Award is made in honor of Professor John E. (“Jack”) Estes, teacher, mentor, scientist, and friend of ASPRS. — Estes Memorial Teaching Award purpose
• otherThe Photogrammetric Fairchild Award is designed to stimulate the development of the art of aerial photogrammetry in the United States. — Photogrammetric Fairchild Award purpose
• otherThe Outstanding Technical Achievement Award was first given in 2012 and is fully endowed at the $8,000 level. — Outstanding Technical Achievement Award endowment
• otherThe ASPRS Lifetime Achievement Award is the highest award an ASPRS member can receive, and there are only 25 living Lifetime Achievement Awardees of the Society at any given time. — ASPRS Lifetime Achievement Award status
• otherGeo Week 2024 attracted over 3,400 registrants from 45 countries, fostering knowledge exchange and networking. — Geo Week 2024
• otherASPRS organized eight workshops on February 11, with over 340 registrants, praised for engaging instruction. — Geo Week 2024
• other14 sessions and multiple poster presentations were held during the event, covering various geospatial topics. — Geo Week 2024
• otherThe Geo Week Joint Award Ceremony recognized seven ASPRS professionals for outstanding contributions. — Geo Week 2024
• otherThe exhibit hall featured around 200 exhibitors showcasing the latest geospatial technology and services. — Geo Week 2024
• workforceASPRS aims to increase student engagement by creating new student chapters and expanding networking, mentoring, and outreach activities. — ASPRS Presidential Address
• workforceASPRS is working to broaden its member base by offering microlearning modules for job search and professional development. — ASPRS Presidential Address
• workforceASPRS divisions are essential for developing standards and best practices, and need to collaborate via interdisciplinary working groups. — ASPRS Presidential Address
• workforceASPRS regional chapters and the Sustaining Members Council (SMC) provide platforms for members from different sectors. — ASPRS Presidential Address
• workforceASPRS is working with regional chapters and councils to streamline certifications and promote interaction for recruitment and retention. — ASPRS Presidential Address
• workforceASPRS is transitioning its flagship journal, PE&RS, to open-access to align with evolving publication models. — ASPRS Presidential Address
• demographicsASPRS has seen an increase in female members and leaders over the years, with four female presidents in the past decade. — ASPRS Presidential Address
• workforceThe ASPRS DEI Committee works with divisions, councils, and regional chapters to increase diversity and enable leadership paths. — ASPRS Presidential Address
• otherThe ASPRS Foundation provides support to student members through its Scholarship program and recognizes professional contributors. — ASPRS Awards and Scholarships
• otherThe ASPRS Fellow Award recognizes members with at least ten years of active service who have performed exceptional service in advancing mapping sciences. — ASPRS Fellow Award
• otherThe Estes Memorial Teaching Award recognizes individuals for their passion in teaching and training geospatial concepts and applications. — Estes Memorial Teaching Award
• otherThe ASPRS Photogrammetric Award (Fairchild) is designed to stimulate the development of the art of aerial photogrammetry in the United States. — ASPRS Photogrammetric Award (Fairchild)
• otherThe ASPRS Outstanding Technical Achievement Award rewards developers of breakthrough technologies that cause quantum advances in photogrammetry, remote sensing, or GIS. — ASPRS Outstanding Technical Achievement Award

Suggested citation

ASPRS (2024). PE&RS Yearbook 2024. The Imaging and Geospatial Information Society.

Key findings (30)

• skills92% of jobs now require at least some digital skills. — US-based National Skills Coalition research
• sector_sizeThe total annual global value of digital skills is around $18.5 trillion. — 2023 Gallup and Amazon study using Lightcast data
• sector_sizeThe total annual global value of digital skills represents 12% of global GDP. — 2023 Gallup and Amazon study using Lightcast data
• skills70% of businesses in Europe have said that a lack of digital skills is an obstacle to investment. — European Commission
• skills40% of adults in Europe lack basic digital skills. — European Commission
• skillsThe most in-demand digital skill across all 15 countries is Microsoft Office. — All 15 countries
• skillsThe country with the highest percentage of job adverts mentioning Microsoft Office is Germany at 15.72%. — Germany
• growthAcross the 15 countries, the fastest growing digital skill is search engine marketing, which grew by 255% in 2023. — All 15 countries, 2023
• growthMicrosoft 365 grew by 195% in 2023. — All 15 countries, 2023
• growthDigital literacy grew by 184% in 2023. — All 15 countries, 2023
• skillsAmong the emerging skills across the 15 countries are Metaverse (7,137%) and Generative Artificial Intelligence (6,477%). — All 15 countries
• geographicGermany sits at the top, with 57.04% and 55.77% of job postings in Munich and Frankfurt mentioning digital skills. — Munich and Frankfurt
• geographicThe UK is at the bottom, with London on just 34.75% of job postings mentioning digital skills. — London
• skillsThe top three in-demand skills across all countries for Applications Programmers are computer science (14.38%), Java (12.89%), and software development (12.30%). — Applications Programmers, all countries, 2023
• skillsThe top three in-demand skills across all countries for Systems Analysts are computer science (14.61%), SQL (12.98%), and data analysis (12.94%). — Systems Analysts, all countries, 2023
• skillsThe top three in-demand skills across all countries for Web Developers are Java (22.12%), Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) (14.26%), and HyperText Markup Language (HTML) (11.32%). — Web Developers, all countries, 2023
• skillsThe top three in-demand skills across all countries for Finance Managers are Microsoft Excel (14.68%), forecasting (12.82%), and Microsoft Office (10.26%). — Finance Managers, all countries, 2023
• skillsThe top three in-demand skills across all countries for Graphic Designers all relate to Adobe products, with the first being Adobe Photoshop (19.04%), followed by Illustrator (16.60%) and InDesign (13.68%). — Graphic Designers, all countries, 2023
• salaryThe total annual global value of digital skills is around $18.5 trillion, representing 12% of global GDP. — 2023 Gallup and Amazon study using Lightcast data
• skills70% of businesses in Europe report a lack of digital skills as an obstacle to investment. — European Commission
• skillsMicrosoft Office is the most in-demand digital skill across all 15 countries, followed by Microsoft Excel and SAP applications. — Lightcast Digital Skills Outlook 2024
• skillsGermany has the highest percentage of job adverts mentioning Microsoft Office at 15.72%. — Lightcast Digital Skills Outlook 2024
• growthSearch engine marketing grew by 255% in 2023, making it the fastest-growing digital skill across 15 countries. — Lightcast Digital Skills Outlook 2024
• growthMicrosoft 365 and digital literacy grew by 195% and 184% respectively in 2023. — Lightcast Digital Skills Outlook 2024
• skillsEmerging digital skills include Metaverse (7,137% growth) and Generative Artificial Intelligence (6,477% growth). — Lightcast Digital Skills Outlook 2024
• geographicMunich (57.04%) and Frankfurt (55.77%) in Germany have the highest percentage of job postings mentioning digital skills. — Lightcast Digital Skills Outlook 2024
• geographicLondon has the lowest percentage of job postings mentioning digital skills at 34.75%. — Lightcast Digital Skills Outlook 2024
• regulatoryGerman employers are legally obliged to mention qualifications for most jobs, unlike in the UK. — Lightcast Digital Skills Outlook 2024
• geographicVienna (52.03%) shows a higher digital skills job posting percentage than Linz, Graz, and Salzburg (all under 40%) in Austria. — Lightcast Digital Skills Outlook 2024
• geographicItalian cities like Milan, Rome, Turin, Naples, and Palermo show a smaller variation in digital skills job postings (38-42%). — Lightcast Digital Skills Outlook 2024

Suggested citation

Lightcast (2024). Digital Skills Outlook 2024. Lightcast.

Key findings (30)

• skillsData-specific roles like Data Engineers and Data Scientists are experiencing the highest growth in AI skill requirements across most countries. — Technical Occupations
• skillsGenerative Artificial Intelligence specifically is appearing with notable frequency in traditionally non-technical positions. — Beyond Technical Roles
• skillsWriters stand out in particular—suggesting that Generative AI is increasingly being adopted as a productivity tool across diverse professions. — Beyond Technical Roles
• growthmost countries saw job postings requiring AI skills bounce back in 2024. — Global Occupation Trends, 2023-2024
• growthcountries like the United States, Canada, Ireland, and Spain show substantial increases in AI-related job postings. — Global Occupation Trends, 2024
• salaryRoles explicitly requesting AI skills command notably higher salaries compared to identical roles without AI requirements. — The AI Salary Advantage
• salaryThe highest premiums appear in traditionally non-technical occupations like Architects and Lawyers. — The AI Salary Advantage
• salarytechnical roles like Computer Programmers show smaller but still meaningful salary increases. — The AI Salary Advantage
• geographicThe United States continues to lead in AI skills demand. — Global AI Skills Demand
• geographicwe're seeing an exciting trend of increased AI focus across multiple countries. — Global AI Skills Demand
• geographiccountries like Italy and Sweden are carving out unique niches—for instance, focusing on specialized domains such as Autonomous Driving and Neural Networks. — Geographical Diversity of AI Skills Demand
• skillsData-specific roles like Data Engineers and Data Scientists show the highest growth in AI skill requirements globally. — Technical Occupations
• skillsGenerative AI is increasingly appearing in non-technical positions, notably for Writers, indicating adoption as a productivity tool. — Beyond Technical Roles
• growthMost countries saw job postings requiring AI skills bounce back in 2024 after a slowdown in 2023. — Global Occupation Trends
• salaryRoles explicitly requesting AI skills command notably higher salaries than identical roles without AI requirements. — The AI Salary Advantage
• salaryThe highest AI salary premiums appear in non-technical occupations like Architects and Lawyers. — The AI Salary Advantage
• salaryTechnical roles like Computer Programmers show smaller but meaningful AI salary increases. — The AI Salary Advantage
• geographicThe United States leads in AI skills demand, but AI focus is increasing across multiple countries. — Locations
• geographicCountries like Italy and Sweden are developing niches in specialized AI domains such as Autonomous Driving and Neural Networks. — Locations
• methodologyLightcast uses job postings data from over 160,000 online sources, synthesized for near real-time insights. — Structuring Lightcast Data
• skillsThe Artificial Intelligence Sector is a list of skills identified by Lightcast based on work with the Stanford AI Index. — Defining AI Skills
• skillsLightcast Open Skills Taxonomy includes over 32,000 skill terms organized hierarchically. — Our Data, Your Solutions
• employmentAI is an established part of the job market, with data available on jobs requesting AI skills. — Actionable Data in a World of Hype
• forecastAI is the most transformative technology of this century. — Actionable Data in a World of Hype
• recommendationOrganizations should use grounded, practical information and clear data on AI for decision-making. — Actionable Data in a World of Hype
• recommendationUnderstanding AI skills supply and demand helps pinpoint capabilities to develop in workforces and curricula. — Skills
• recommendationIdentifying occupations with AI salary premiums and high AI demand enables smarter talent strategies. — Occupations
• recommendationKnowing where AI talent is concentrated globally and regionally aids decisions on development, education, and resource allocation. — Locations
• trendAI is transforming the world of work, providing a roadmap for strategic decision-making across sectors. — How Does this AI Outlook Help You Build a Future-Ready Workforce?
• sector_sizeThe public sector is the fastest-growing segment of the economy due to AI's impact. — Public Sector

Suggested citation

Lightcast (2024). Global AI Skills Outlook. Lightcast.

Suggested citation

MissionSquare Research Institute (2024). State and Local Workforce 2024. MissionSquare.

Key findings (30)

• growthNationally, across all industries, hiring decelerated by 0.8% from June to July and decreased 7.9% compared to July 2023. — US national hiring rate, July 2024 vs June 2024 and July 2023
• growthThe pace of hiring this year had been effectively steady through May but now sits slightly below its January 2024 level (-1.3%). — US national hiring rate, July 2024 vs January 2024
• growthHiring increased in 8 out of 20 industries from June to July. — US national hiring rate by industry, July 2024 vs June 2024
• growthThe industries with the strongest month-over-month acceleration in July were Administrative and Support Services (+4.6%); Accommodation and Food Services (+3.3%); and Consumer Services (+3.0%). — US national hiring rate by industry, July 2024 vs June 2024
• growthHiring decelerated the most month-over-month in Farming, Ranching, Forestry (-4.2%), Education (-3.9%) and Professional Services (-3.8%). — US national hiring rate by industry, July 2024 vs June 2024
• growthThe Technology, Information, and Media industry continues to stabilize with hiring accelerating 7.2% from July 2023 to July 2024. — US national hiring rate for Technology, Information, and Media industry, July 2024 vs July 2023
• growthWhile the pace of hiring accelerated slightly (+0.1%) from June to July for Dallas-Ft. Worth, the other 19 of 20 metro areas we track saw hiring slow from June to July. — US metro area hiring rate, July 2024 vs June 2024
• growthOnly hiring in Atlanta remains up year-over-year (+1.1%). — US metro area hiring rate, Atlanta, July 2024 vs July 2023
• growthThe cities with the largest hiring decelerations from June to July were San Francisco Bay Area (-4.5%), Cleveland (-5.1%), and Houston (-8.4%). — US metro area hiring rate, July 2024 vs June 2024
• workforceWith over 214 million LinkedIn members in the United States, we have unique insight into the real-time dynamics of Americans starting new jobs and moving to new cities. — US LinkedIn membership count
• employmentNationally, across all industries, hiring decelerated by 0.8% from June to July 2024. — July 2024
• employmentNational hiring decreased 7.9% in July 2024 compared to July 2023. — July 2024 vs July 2023
• employmentThe pace of hiring in the US had been effectively steady through May 2024 but now sits slightly below its January 2024 level (-1.3%). — July 2024
• employmentHiring increased in 8 out of 20 industries from June to July 2024. — July 2024
• employmentThe industries with the strongest month-over-month acceleration in hiring in July 2024 were Administrative and Support Services (+4.6%), Accommodation and Food Services (+3.3%), and Consumer Services (+3.0%). — July 2024
• employmentHiring decelerated the most month-over-month in July 2024 in Farming, Ranching, Forestry (-4.2%), Education (-3.9%), and Professional Services (-3.8%). — July 2024
• employmentThe Technology, Information, and Media industry saw hiring accelerate 7.2% from July 2023 to July 2024. — July 2024 vs July 2023
• employmentNo hiring gains were seen across major metros for the second consecutive month. — July 2024
• employmentThe cities with the largest hiring decelerations from June to July 2024 were San Francisco Bay Area (-4.5%), Cleveland (-5.1%), and Houston (-8.4%). — July 2024
• employmentThe LinkedIn hiring rate is a measure of hires divided by LinkedIn membership. — Methodology
• employmentThe hiring rate is indexed to the average month in 2016 for each industry. — Methodology
• employmentAn index of 1.05 indicates a hiring rate that is 5% higher than the average month in 2016. — Methodology
• employmentAccommodation and Food Services hiring rate increased 3.3% month-over-month in July 2024. — July 2024
• employmentAdministrative and Support Services hiring rate increased 4.6% month-over-month in July 2024. — July 2024
• employmentTechnology, Information and Media hiring rate increased 2.8% month-over-month in July 2024. — July 2024
• employmentRetail hiring rate increased 2.7% month-over-month in July 2024. — July 2024
• employmentReal Estate and Equipment Rental Services hiring rate increased 0.9% month-over-month in July 2024. — July 2024
• employmentHolding Companies hiring rate increased 2.5% month-over-month in July 2024. — July 2024
• employmentConsumer Services hiring rate increased 3.0% month-over-month in July 2024. — July 2024
• hiringNationally, hiring decelerated by 0.8% from June to July 2024 and decreased 7.9% compared to July 2023. — US, July 2024

Suggested citation

LinkedIn Economic Graph (2024). LinkedIn Workforce Report — August 2024. LinkedIn.

Key findings (30)

• otherThe GEOINT Essential Body of Knowledge (EBK) 3.0 describes the GEOINT discipline and essential knowledge, skills, and abilities for success. — Overview
• otherUSGIF developed the first GEOINT EBK in 2014, with a significant revamp to version 2.0 in 2019. — Overview
• otherThe EBK 3.0 reflects continued growth in GEOINT tradecraft and the current field reality, informed by community input. — Overview
• workforceThe EBK serves as a framework for academic curriculum development, student skill assessment, and career guidance for individuals. — Overview
• workforceEmployers may use the EBK to determine hiring requirements and develop job descriptions. — Overview
• otherEBK 3.0 is reorganized to differentiate subtopics and learning objectives more clearly, organized by proficiency level. — Overview
• otherContent deemed no longer universally essential, including outdated technology and redundant objectives, was retired or deemphasized. — Overview
• otherThe EBK 3.0 aims to update standards to 2024, be more approachable, and structure content by proficiency level. — Overview
• otherThe EBK reformatted to utilize Bloom's Taxonomy, aligning action verbs with six levels of learning. — Overview
• workforceUSGIF plans to frame reviewing and updating the EBK as an ongoing project to meet evolving GEOINT workforce needs. — Overview
• skillsPart I of the EBK covers Technical Competencies, starting with GIS and Analysis Tools. — Part I: Technical Competencies
• skillsGIS and Analysis Tools competency involves knowledge and skills for capturing, storing, managing, and visualizing location-linked data. — 1.1 COMPETENCY 1: GIS and Analysis Tools
• skillsProficiency levels for GIS and Analysis Tools include Prerequisites, Foundational, Application, and Mastery. — 1.1 COMPETENCY 1: GIS and Analysis Tools
• skillsThe EBK details learning objectives for Vector and Vectorization, Raster and Imagery Analysis, Geodesic Science, Spatial Topology, and Data Selection and Validation. — 1.1 COMPETENCY 1: GIS and Analysis Tools
• skillsMastery level objectives for GIS and Analysis Tools include developing advanced methods for smoothing, interpolation, and 4D data models. — 1.1 COMPETENCY 1: GIS and Analysis Tools
• skillsRaster and Imagery Analysis covers topics like pixel definition, digital camera components, resolution, and image scale. — 1.1 COMPETENCY 1: GIS and Analysis Tools
• skillsFoundational level objectives for Raster and Imagery Analysis include understanding raster data conversion, analog to digital conversion, and tessellation models. — 1.1 COMPETENCY 1: GIS and Analysis Tools
• skillsApplication level objectives for Raster and Imagery Analysis involve calculating total area from raster data and differentiating lossy raster data formats. — 1.1 COMPETENCY 1: GIS and Analysis Tools
• skillsMastery level objectives for Raster and Imagery Analysis include integrating advanced statistical modeling and programming skills for data selection and validation. — 1.1 COMPETENCY 1: GIS and Analysis Tools
• skillsGeodesic Science, Geographically Referencing Spatial Information, and Positioning covers map projections, coordinate systems, and GPS/GNSS. — 1.1 COMPETENCY 1: GIS and Analysis Tools
• otherGEOINT principles include defining GEOINT, understanding the role of geography, and historical events in geospatial technologies. — Section 1.1, Foundations of geospatial intelligence (GEOINT)
• otherHuman geography sub-disciplines include cultural, economic, health, military, political, and urban geography. — Section 1.2, Human and physical geography
• otherPhysical geography sub-disciplines include meteorology, climatology, and geomorphology, with importance placed on plate tectonics and natural disaster effects. — Section 1.2, Human and physical geography
• otherGeographic thought trends relevant to GEOINT include positivism, critical rationalism, Marxism, phenomenology, social constructionism, structuralism, and complexity theory. — Section 2.1, Geographic thought
• otherGeographic theories include environmental determinism, possibilism, environmental perception, and cultural determinism. — Section 2.2, Geographic theories
• otherKey figures in GEOINT history include Sun Tzu (500 BCE) to Lt. Gen. James R. Clapper (2010). — Section 3.1, History of GEOINT
• otherThe National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) lineage traces back to the Defense Mapping Agency in 1972. — Section 3.2, History of GEOINT
• otherSignificant event classes in GEOINT history include disasters (e.g., Hurricane Katrina), military operations (e.g., War in Afghanistan), and technological changes (e.g., GPS and GIS). — Section 3.3, History of GEOINT
• ai_adoptionGeoAI is a technological change relevant to GEOINT history. — Section 3.3, History of GEOINT
• otherFoundational knowledge for GEOINT includes statistics, probabilities, economics, decision analysis, and relational/non-relational database technologies. — Section T13, Prerequisites (P)

Suggested citation

US Geospatial Intelligence Foundation (2024). GEOINT Essential Body of Knowledge 3.0. USGIF.

Key findings (30)

• salaryAverage annual salary $91,774; median $87,000. — all full-time GIS professionals
• salaryGIS Analyst (26.1%) and GIS Manager (22.8%) are the most common job titles surveyed; salaries vary by job title and certification. — 2024 self-reported
• workforce53.4% of respondents are employed within some level of government; 17.5% specifically in municipal government. — sector breakdown
• workforce97.5% of respondents are employed full-time. — employment status
• workforce92.6% of respondents have a Bachelor's degree or better; 44.4% have a Master's or higher. — education attainment
• skills31.8% of respondents are certified GIS professionals (GISP). Average salary differences between GISP and non-GISP vary widely by job title. — certification rate
• demographicsAverage age 41.4 years (35.5 GIS Technician to 47.0 Chief Geospatial Data Officer). Male 57.3% / female 40.3%. — demographic profile
• workforceGIS Director hires require 7+ years experience including software applications and project management. — hiring requirements
• salaryThe average current annual salary among all respondents is $91,774, with a median of $87,000. — 2024 survey results
• salaryGIS Directors/GIOs have the highest average salary at $121,919, while GIS Technicians have the lowest at $57,450. — 2024 survey results by job title
• salaryGISPs earn approximately $20,000 more on average than non-GISPs. — 2024 survey results
• employment97.5% of respondents report their current employment status as employed full-time. — 2024 survey results
• employment53.4% of respondents are employed within some level of government, with 18.3% in the private sector as consultants. — 2024 survey results
• employmentMore than one-half of respondents' organizations (54.5%) have seen an increase in the number of GIS staff in the past five years. — 2024 survey results
• workforceGIS Analyst (26.1%) and GIS Manager (22.8%) are the most common job titles among respondents. — 2024 survey results
• workforceRespondents spend an average of 67.3% of their time on geospatial technology tasks. — 2024 survey results
• workforceGIS Analysts spend the most time on geospatial tasks at 80.8%. — 2024 survey results by job title
• workforceThe average respondent has 14.7 years of GIS experience. — 2024 survey results
• workforceRespondents have been employed at their current position for an average of 6.5 years. — 2024 survey results
• skills97.9% of respondents require proficiency in Esri ArcGIS. — 2024 survey results
• skillsData Analysis (86.2%), Data Manipulation (81.8%), and Data Visualization and Reporting (81.5%) are the most required GIS skills. — 2024 survey results
• skillsInterpersonal skills (84.9%) and project management (77.2%) are also highly required skills for GIS professionals. — 2024 survey results
• training97% of respondents have acquired continuing education or professional development in the past three years. — 2024 survey results
• training81.3% of respondents attended association conferences, workshops, webinars, or training. — 2024 survey results
• training31.8% of respondents are a certified GIS professional (GISP). — 2024 survey results
• training34.6% of non-GISPs plan to apply for certification within the next three years. — 2024 survey results
• demographicsThe average age of respondents is 41.4 years. — 2024 survey results
• demographicsMales comprise 57.3% of respondents, and females comprise 40.3%. — 2024 survey results
• demographics83.4% of respondents identify as white, followed by Hispanic or Latin American (5.5%) and Asian (5.3%). — 2024 survey results
• demographics92.6% of respondents have attained a Bachelor's degree or higher, with 44.4% holding a Master's degree. — 2024 survey results

Suggested citation

URISA Geospatial Practitioner Network (2024). 2024 Executive Summary. URISA.

Key findings (12)

• ai_adoptionNearly 70% of respondents have invested in AI technology or plan in the future — State of Spatial Data Science 2024 survey respondents
• workforceThis year's report features contributions from over 250 industry experts — State of Spatial Data Science 2024 report contributors
• growthThe adoption of Spatial Data Science is growing across different industries — State of Spatial Data Science 2024 report theme
• skillsThe main skill shortages and recruitment challenges in geo — State of Spatial Data Science 2024 report theme
• ai_adoptionNearly 70% of respondents have invested in AI technology or plan to do so in the future. — State of Spatial Data Science 2024 report
• workforceThe report highlights skill shortages in the field of Spatial Data Science. — State of Spatial Data Science 2024 report
• growthThe adoption of Spatial Data Science is growing across different industries. — State of Spatial Data Science 2024 report
• recruitmentRecruitment challenges exist in the geo field. — State of Spatial Data Science 2024 report
• trainingThe report discusses the main skill shortages in geo. — State of Spatial Data Science 2024 report
• cloud_adoptionThe report explores how organizations are modernizing their data stack. — State of Spatial Data Science 2024 report
• sector_compositionThe report features contributions from over 250 industry experts. — State of Spatial Data Science 2024 report
• ai_adoptionNearly 70% of respondents have invested in AI technology or plan to in the future. — 2024 report

Suggested citation

CARTO and Databricks (2024). The State of Spatial Data Science 2024. CARTO.

Key findings (30)

• salaryGeoscientists earned a median pay of approximately $99,240 per year as of May 2024. — Geoscientists, May 2024
• salaryGeographers had a median pay of about $97,200 per year in May 2024. — Geographers, May 2024
• salaryCartographers and photogrammetrists earned a median pay of around $78,380 per year as of May 2024. — Cartographers and photogrammetrists, May 2024
• sector_compositionIn 2024, the UK sector employed at least 37,500 people. — UK geospatial sector, 2024
• sector_composition96% of the over 2,600 core geospatial companies are UK-registered without overseas parent companies. — UK geospatial companies, 2024
• sector_compositionA significant majority—around 75%—of UK core geospatial companies are small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with 10 or fewer employees. — UK SMEs in geospatial sector, 2024
• growthThe Geospatial Analytics AI market alone is projected to surge from $0.11 billion in 2024 to $0.42 billion by 2029, a CAGR of 31.0%. — Geospatial Analytics AI market, 2024-2029
• growthThe Geospatial Analytics market is forecasted to grow from $93.49 billion in 2024 to $362.45 billion by 2035 (CAGR 13.11%). — Geospatial Analytics market, 2024-2035
• growthThe Geospatial Solutions market could reach nearly $1 trillion by 2030 (CAGR 14.6%). — Geospatial Solutions market, by 2030
• growthThe Geospatial AI Market was valued at $38 billion in 2024, projected to hit $64.60 billion by 2030 (CAGR 9.25%). — Geospatial AI Market, 2024-2030
• salaryThe U.S. Army Corps of Engineers saving an estimated $100 million per year through AI-optimized dredging operations. — U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, annual savings
• salaryAI-driven route optimization cutting transportation costs by around 20%. — AI in logistics, transportation cost reduction
• workforceThe geospatial sector is undergoing a seismic shift due to AI/ML, fundamentally reordering work, valuable skills, and the industry's economic bedrock. — Introduction
• salaryGeoscientists earned a median pay of approximately $99,240 per year as of May 2024, typically with a Bachelor's degree. — Snapshot of the Current Geospatial Workforce
• employmentThe job outlook for geoscientists from 2023 to 2033 was projected at a 5% growth, with around 26,000 individuals employed in this role in 2023. — Snapshot of the Current Geospatial Workforce
• skillsKey attributes for geoscientists have included strong communication and critical-thinking skills, alongside practical outdoor skills for fieldwork. — Snapshot of the Current Geospatial Workforce
• salaryGeographers had a median pay of about $97,200 per year in May 2024, also typically requiring a Bachelor's degree. — Snapshot of the Current Geospatial Workforce
• employmentTheir job outlook was a 3% growth over the 2023-2033 decade, with approximately 1,600 jobs in 2023. — Snapshot of the Current Geospatial Workforce
• skillsEssential skills for geographers have encompassed analytical abilities, computer proficiency (including GIS programming and database management), communication, and critical thinking. — Snapshot of the Current Geospatial Workforce
• salaryCartographers and photogrammetrists earned a median pay of around $78,380 per year as of May 2024, usually with a Bachelor's degree. — Snapshot of the Current Geospatial Workforce
• employmentTheir employment was projected to grow by 6% between 2023 and 2033, with about 12,900 jobs in 2023. — Snapshot of the Current Geospatial Workforce
• geographicIn 2024, the UK geospatial sector employed at least 37,500 people. — United Kingdom's geospatial sector
• sector_composition96% of the over 2,600 core UK geospatial companies are UK-registered without overseas parent companies. — United Kingdom's geospatial sector
• sector_compositionAround 75% of UK core geospatial companies are small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with 10 or fewer employees. — United Kingdom's geospatial sector
• growthPre-AI growth projections for traditional roles (3-6%) appear modest compared to the explosive growth anticipated for the GeoAI market itself. — Comparison of traditional vs. GeoAI growth
• growthSome segments like geospatial analytics AI expecting a CAGR of over 30%. — Comparison of traditional vs. GeoAI growth
• ai_adoptionThe integration of AI/ML into GIS is a present-day force reshaping the industry with breathtaking speed. — The AI/ML Wave
• growthThe Geospatial Analytics AI market is projected to surge from $0.11 billion in 2024 to $0.42 billion by 2029, a CAGR of 31.0%. — Economic indicators
• trendTechnological trends expected to reshape GIS by 2025 include AI-powered image recognition, real-time GeoAI, advanced predictive modeling, natural language AI interfaces, and cloud-native AI architectures. — Technological trends
• automationAI's ability to perform automated feature extraction from satellite imagery directly replaces painstaking manual digitization work. — Automation of core tasks

Suggested citation

Project Geospatial (2024). The GeoAI Revolution: Charting the 2030 Geospatial Workforce Landscape.

Key findings (30)

• baselineFirst-ever industry-wide profile of the NZ geospatial workforce. Establishes a baseline for tracking demographic and employment changes biennially. — first NZ geospatial baseline
• demographicsReports age, gender, ethnicity, country/region of origin, and region of work for the NZ geospatial workforce. — sections 1-5
• workforceEmployment status, sector composition, recent employment changes, career level, role title, and management responsibilities documented. — sections 10-15
• salarySalary range distribution reported across the workforce (section 16). Authoritative NZ salary reference. — see report section 16
• pipelineHighest geospatial qualification, years of experience, and qualification by discipline reported (sections 7-9). — training pipeline metrics
• communityIndustry continuity, community involvement, and volunteering rates among geospatial professionals quantified. — sections 17-19
• demographics65% of respondents indicated New Zealand as their country of origin/birth. — 2023 Survey
• salaryThe average salary was calculated at $103,000 NZD from the gross salary of full-time employees and contractors. — 2023 Survey
• demographics59% of respondents identify as male, 40% as female, and 1% as another gender or prefer not to say. — 2023 Survey
• demographicsThe geospatial industry has a proportionally higher representation of Europeans (79.9%) and very low representation of Māori (3.1%) and Pacific Peoples (1.1%) compared to the national average. — 2023 Survey, compared to Stats NZ 2018 Census
• demographicsMost respondents (64.6%) are from New Zealand. — 2023 Survey
• geographicThe Wellington Region had the highest response rate for primary work location (32.1%). — 2023 Survey
• educationMost respondents have a Master's Degree or Post-Graduate Certificate (52%). — 2023 Survey
• salaryRespondents with a Doctorate Degree have the highest average salary at $111,944. — 2023 Survey
• skillsThe most common qualifications are in GIS (70%) and Geography (41%). — 2023 Survey
• skills19% of respondents have no formal geospatial qualification. — 2023 Survey
• skillsThe most common highest geospatial qualifications are Bachelor's Degree or Post-Graduate/Honours Degree (20% each). — 2023 Survey
• employmentMost respondents (55%) have less than 10 years of geospatial work experience. — 2023 Survey
• employment87% of respondents work full-time. — 2023 Survey
• employmentThe largest employment sectors are Private Sector - employed by a company (36%) and Local Government (28%). — 2023 Survey
• employment82% of respondents did not change employers between March 2022 and May 2023. — 2023 Survey
• salarySalary increases with career level, with Executives earning the highest average salary of $151,471. — 2023 Survey
• employmentMost respondents (72.7%) do not manage other people in their current role. — 2023 Survey
• salaryThe most common salary bracket for full-time employees and contractors is $80,000 - $100,000 NZD (30%). — 2023 Survey
• trend73% of respondents plan to still be in the geospatial industry in 5 years. — 2023 Survey
• employmentAbout 42% of respondents volunteer their industry skills outside of work. — 2023 Survey
• demographics59% of geospatial industry respondents in NZ identify as male, 40% as female, and 1% as another gender or prefer not to say. — 2023 Survey
• demographicsThe geospatial industry in NZ has a higher representation of Europeans (79.9%) compared to the national average, and very low representation of Māori (3.1%) and Pacific Peoples (1.1%). — 2023 Survey vs. 2018 NZ Census
• demographicsApproximately 65% of respondents in the NZ geospatial industry report New Zealand as their country/region of origin. — 2023 Survey
• geographicThe Wellington Region has the highest response rate for where geospatial professionals primarily work in NZ, at 32.1%. — 2023 Survey

Suggested citation

Land Information New Zealand (2023). New Zealand Geospatial Industry Report. LINZ.

Key findings (30)

• sector_sizeDedicated UK geospatial companies have generated over £6 billion in annual turnover since 2018. — core-business firms only — broader geospatial-enabled economy is much larger
• employmentDedicated UK geospatial companies employ over 30,000 people annually since 2018. — authoritative UK workforce baseline; pairs with EARSC EU 13,796
• investmentThe UK geospatial sector secured over £1 billion in equity investment since 2016, with 2022 a record year at over £400 million across more than 100 deals. — venture capital activity
• adjacent_marketBroader UK space industry generates £14.8 billion annually — the geospatial services slice sits within and alongside it. — context for geospatial-vs-space distinction
• missionMission 1: embrace enabling technologies to accelerate geospatial innovation. — first of three named missions
• missionMission 2: drive greater use of geospatial applications and insights across the economy. — second of three named missions
• missionMission 3: build confidence in the future geospatial ecosystem. — third of three named missions
• skillsSkills priorities: embed geospatial into data science and geography courses; support the Government Geography Profession; publish best-practice guidance for universities; deliver the Data, Digital, Diversity Training pilot. — skills mission, multiple workstreams
• kpiNUAR (National Underground Asset Register) fully operational by end of 2025; Remote Sensing review complete by end of 2024; PSGA review by spring 2024. — named delivery milestones
• sector_sizeDedicated geospatial companies in the UK have generated over £6 billion in annual turnover and employ over 30,000 people. — Since 2016
• sector_sizeDedicated geospatial companies secured over £1 billion in equity investment since 2016.
• sector_sizeIn 2022, the UK tech industry reached the $1 trillion in value milestone.
• sector_sizeThe UK digital sector provided 7.4% of UK total gross value added (GVA) in 2022.
• sector_sizeThe UK digital sector grew at a rate three times faster than the rest of the economy in 2022.
• sector_sizeThe UK is home to 122 tech unicorns, ranking third globally and first in Europe.
• sector_sizeThe Scottish space sector employs over 8,500 people and its income rose by almost £40 million in 2021 to £180 million.
• sector_sizeDedicated geospatial companies raised over £400 million in equity investment in 2022 across more than 100 deals.
• sector_sizeEarth Observation (EO) technology supported an estimated £106 billion of UK GDP (5.1%) in 2022.
• sector_sizeThere were an estimated 6,905 active satellites orbiting the Earth in 2022, compared to 1,091 in 2012.
• sector_sizeThere are over 150 commercial and public satellite constellations in orbit with EO sensors as of January 2023.
• sector_sizeThe National Underground Asset Register (NUAR) is expected to deliver at least £350 million per year in benefits.
• sector_sizeApproximately one in every 65 holes dug results in accidental damage to buried infrastructure, costing around £2.4 billion annually.
• sector_sizeGeovation's Accelerator Programme has kickstarted over 150 geospatial and property startups, who raised more than £170 million and created over 2,500 jobs. — Over the last five years
• forecastThe UK will face more days of heavy rainfall and more flooding due to global climate change.
• growthThe UK is ranked second in the global geospatial readiness index.
• growthThe UK is ranked 4th in the Global Innovation Index 2022.
• growthThe UK is the 3rd top destination for private technology investment, ahead of the rest of Europe.
• growthThe UK excels at AI, receiving more investment than France and Germany combined in 2021 and ranking 3rd in the AI Global Readiness Index.
• growthThe UK space industry generates an income of £14.8 billion annually.
• otherUPRNs and USRNs provide every property and street with a consistent identifier throughout its lifecycle. — PSGA agreement

Suggested citation

UK Geospatial Commission (2025). UK Geospatial Strategy 2030. Cabinet Office.

Key findings (30)

• sector_size772 European companies active in the Earth Observation services sector. — 2023 census
• employment13,796 employees across the European EO services sector. — 2023 — primary EU geospatial-EO workforce baseline
• revenue€1.79 billion total annual sector revenue. — 2023
• growth7.5% annual sector growth. — 2023 vs 2022; sector outpaces general European economy
• sector_compositionSMEs and start-ups account for nearly 96% of European EO services companies. — high SME density vs upstream space sector
• longitudinalSector has grown from ~5,000 staff and ~€750 million revenue in 2013 to 13,796 staff and €1.79 billion in 2023 — workforce 2.8x and revenue 2.4x in a decade. — EARSC 9-edition trend, 2013 to 2023
• seriesAnnual cadence since 2020 (5th edition); prior surveys ran biennially in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019. — series methodology — comparable year-over-year from 2020 onwards
• methodologyThe survey methodology was revised 3 years ago to optimize annual analysis. — Introduction
• sector_sizeIn 2022, there were 746 companies in the European EO services industry, an increase of 4.6% from the previous year. — European Industry at a glance
• employmentThe total number of employees in the EO services sector in 2022 was 12,085, a 4.1% increase over the last 12 months. — European Industry at a glance
• sector_sizeTotal revenues in the sector in 2021 were €1.61 billion, a decrease of 5.5% from the previous year. — European Industry at a glance
• growthThe Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) over 5 years for the EO services industry was 7.5%. — European Industry at a glance
• sector_compositionApproximately 96-97% of companies in the EO services sector are SMEs (less than 250 employees). — Industrial Landscape (2)
• sector_compositionAround 92-93% of companies have less than 50 employees. — Industrial Landscape (2)
• geographicThe UK hosts the largest number of EO service companies (106), followed by Germany (97) and France (76). — Industrial Landscape (3)
• employmentFrance has the most employees in the EO services sector (1794), followed by Germany (1265) and Italy (862). — Industrial Landscape (4)
• employment53% of the sector's employment is within companies that have less than 50 employees. — Employment (2)
• recruitment77% of companies reported difficulties in finding and hiring staff. — Employment - Skills (1)
• skillsLack of transversal, business-oriented skills, and difficulty finding experienced EO professionals are key hiring barriers. — Employment - Skills (1)
• skillsLow candidate numbers and lack of knowledge in new technologies are the biggest obstacles in hiring skilled employees. — Employment - Skills (2)
• skillsProgramming and Development capability, and Computing Resources and Platforms skills remain difficult to find. — Employment - Skills (3)
• growthThe three main reasons for hiring are an increase in business sales (67.5%), adoption of new technologies (51.3%), and increased project execution (48.5%). — Employment - Skills (4)
• revenuesSmall-sized companies generate the most important part of revenues in the EO services sector. — Revenues (2)
• forecast86% of surveyed companies in 2022 are optimistic about the future, foreseeing a slight (50%) or significant (36%) increase in revenues. — Revenue perspective - Comparison
• geographicThe Middle East Region (19%) and Asia (19%) saw an increase in EO services business activity. — Market- Geographic distribution
• geographicEurope is the most promising geographical area for future business (30%), followed by Africa (15%) and North America (13%). — Markets – Geographical areas of interest for the future
• trendSentinel-1 C-Band SAR and Sentinel-2 MSI data are the most used Copernicus data. — Copernicus – Use of Sentinel data
• sector_sizeThe European EO services industry comprised 746 companies in 2021, an increase of 4.6% from the previous year. — 2021
• employmentThe total number of employees in the European EO services sector reached 12,085 in 2022, up 4.1% from 2021. — 2022
• sector_sizeSMEs (<250 employees) constitute approximately 96-97% of companies in the EO services sector. — 2021

Suggested citation

European Association of Remote Sensing Companies (2020). State and Health of the European EO Services Industry, 5th Edition. EARSC, supported by ESA.

Key findings (30)

• recruitment34% of respondents cite pay as a limiting factor for successful recruitment. — most-cited barrier
• skills17% identify a skills gap as a recruitment barrier; 10% feel geospatial roles are misunderstood. — recruitment friction
• workforceSkills gap acknowledged across all organisation sizes; SMEs find technical and sales positions especially hard to fill. — sector-wide observation
• retentionPay is the key barrier to retention identified by respondents. — retention survey
• pipeline5% of respondents mention apprenticeships or graduate roles as part of their recruitment strategy; the range of roles identified was very narrow. — training pipeline
• sector_strengthOrganisations in utilities, environment, transport, and built environment find recruitment relatively easier than other sub-sectors. — sub-sector contrast
• methodologyThe AGI conducted its first skills survey between October 2022 and January 2023, with 131 organisations responding. — Appendix 1: Survey Methodology
• methodologyThe survey targeted AGI members, particularly those with recent recruitment experience, and was also shared on social media and the AGI website. — Appendix 1: Survey Methodology
• methodologyRespondents were grouped into 'public' (academia, third sector, public sector) and 'private' (industry, training provider) sectors for analysis. — Appendix 1: Survey Methodology
• methodologyThe survey results may not fully represent small companies or start-ups, as the majority of respondents were from large and medium-sized organisations. — Appendix 1: Caveats
• methodologyThe survey results may overrepresent organisations that have recruited recently due to targeted outreach. — Appendix 1: Caveats
• recruitment79% of organisations recruited for geospatial skills in the last 6 months, with the private sector recruiting more recently than the public sector. — Summary
• recruitment63% of organisations recruited due to higher demand for geospatial skills. — Summary
• recruitment69% of organisations were able to recruit the geospatial skills they required, with the private sector finding it easier than the public sector. — Summary
• recruitment77% of organisations expect to be able to recruit in the future, with the private sector more confident than the public sector. — Summary
• recruitment46% of organisations hiring cited pay as a barrier to recruitment. — Summary
• recruitment79% of organisations recruited in the last 6 months, suggesting healthy growth, but this may be an overrepresentation. — Findings: Recruitment
• recruitmentOrganisations are recruiting due to increased demand for geospatial skills (63%), new projects/products, and staff replacement. — Findings: Recruitment
• recruitmentThe most common roles recruited for were 'analyst' (26%) and 'consultant' (18%). — Findings: Recruitment
• recruitment69% of organisations are able to recruit the geospatial skills they require; the private sector finds it slightly easier (74%) than the public sector (66%). — Findings: Recruitment
• recruitment77% of organisations expect to be able to recruit in the future; 23% do not, citing pay (34%), skills gap (17%), and lack of value (10%) as reasons. — Findings: Recruitment
• recruitment46% of organisations recruiting stated that pay is a barrier to recruitment. — Findings: Recruitment
• skillsThe skills in highest demand are core data skills: analysis, processing, visualisation, and manipulation. — Summary
• skillsSkills in lowest demand are less data-related, such as ethics, people management, and business analysis. — Summary
• skillsThe skills in highest demand are core data-related skills like data analysis (72%), processing, visualisation, and manipulation. — Findings: Skills
• skillsAdvanced data manipulation is the hardest skill to recruit for, with high demand and high shortages. — Findings: Skills
• skillsOrganisations also struggle to recruit for database administration, AI/machine learning, data modelling, and software engineering skills. — Findings: Skills
• skillsPeople management has low demand (16%) and low shortage (10%), making it one of the easiest skills to recruit for. — Findings: Skills
• retention63% of organisations are able to retain staff in geospatial roles for more than two years. — Summary
• retentionGood company culture (39%) and career progression opportunities (21%) are key reasons for good retention. — Summary

Suggested citation

Association for Geographic Information (2023). Education and Skills Report. AGI.

Key findings (6)

• growthIn the 2022 Geospatial Strategy for National Development report, India's geospatial economy was valued at approximately INR 41,600 crore (~USD 5.0B at 2022 exchange rate) and projected to reach INR 61,000 crore by the end of 2025. — 2022 baseline; INR-USD ~83 in 2022; projection assumed continued policy implementation
• employmentAs of the 2022 Geospatial Strategy for National Development report, the Indian geospatial economy employed approximately 545,000 people (5.45 lakh in Indian numbering). — 2022 figure; report projected workforce to grow with INR 61,000 crore sector valuation by 2025
• forecastThe Indian geospatial economy could have grown to INR 80,000 crore by 2025 if three draft policies were implemented in 2022. — 2021 prediction vs. Nov 2022 reality
• growthThe geospatial economy could reach INR 1 lakh crore by 2030 with policy formalization and a defined industrial development strategy. — Geospatial World Director – Consulting
• sector_compositionDefence and Intelligence, Utilities, Urban Development, Infrastructure Development, Agriculture, and Land Administration are key sectors driving market growth. — 2022 report
• trendThe Indian geospatial industry is shifting from a services model to a solutions industry, with increased demand for fit-for-purpose solutions. — 2022 report

Suggested citation

Geospatial World (2022). India Geospatial Economy Report; NASSCOM-cited figures presented at GeoSmart India 2022, Hyderabad.

Key findings (30)

• sector_sizeQuantifies the economic value of UK geospatial data and services for the Geospatial Commission. — foundational citation for any UK geospatial market sizing claim
• methodologyDefines geospatial roles via skill requirements rather than job titles, identifying individual skills and grouping into sub-groups (analytical, technical, communications) with comparator non-geospatial groups. — classification approach
• demandReports geographic distribution of geospatial postings, salaries offered, and education/qualification requirements across the UK. — descriptive analysis
• salarySection 4.5 reports salaries offered for geospatial jobs across sub-groups; Section 4.6 covers education/qualification requirements. — see report sections 4.5-4.6 for figures
• methodologyThe study used job vacancy data from Burning Glass Technologies covering 2014-2019 to analyze demand for geospatial skills across the UK. — Executive Summary
• skillsCommonly occurring geospatial skills include familiarity with GIS software packages like QGIS, surveying skills, and remote sensing. — Executive Summary
• sector_compositionGeospatial jobs are found across diverse sectors including retail, banking, and pharmaceuticals, not confined to a single industry. — Executive Summary
• sector_compositionGeospatial roles were grouped into six subgroups based on skill mix: GIS Specialists, Programming/Data Management with GIS, Civil Engineering/Design Software, SLAM & Robotics, Surveyors, and Miscellaneous. — Figure 3
• skillsGIS Specialists subgroup most commonly features GIS software skills and communication skills. — Figure 3
• skillsProgramming/Data Management with GIS subgroup most commonly features GIS software skills and SQL. — Figure 3
• skillsCivil Engineering/Design Software subgroup most commonly features Building Information Modelling and AutoCAD. — Figure 3
• skillsSLAM & Robotics subgroup most commonly features SLAM and C++. — Figure 3
• skillsSurveyors subgroup most commonly features Land Surveys and communication skills. — Figure 3
• skillsMiscellaneous subgroup most commonly features Mapping and Project Planning. — Figure 3
• employmentOver the period 2014-19, 71,300 job postings called for a geospatial skill, equating to 1.6 geospatial postings per thousand job adverts. — Changes in demand over time
• growthThere is no consistent trend in the total number of geospatial postings over 2014-19, but there is early evidence of a rise from mid-2018 to end-2019. — Changes in demand over time
• growthDemand for the surveying and civil engineering subgroups experienced material increases between 2014-19. — Changes in demand over time
• skillsSpecific GIS software packages and expertise relating to sensor technologies have become more prevalent on geospatial postings since 2014. — Changes in demand over time
• skillsPython has seen the largest proportional increase as a co-occurring skill with geospatial roles since 2014. — Changes in demand over time
• geographicLondon has the highest number of geospatial postings, but Scotland and Northern Ireland have the highest rates of geospatial intensity. — Regional patterns of demand
• methodologyGeospatial roles were identified based on the skill mix required, using a combination of bottom-up keyword searches and top-down review of skill clusters. — Defining geospatial roles
• skillsA diverse list of 60+ individual geospatial skills was identified, including software (ArcGIS, QGIS), data collection/manipulation, and sector-specific skills. — Individual skills identified
• sector_compositionGeospatial roles were divided into six subgroups based on skill mix to explore granular trends and tailor policy interventions. — Creating Sub-groups of Geospatial Roles
• skillsThe 'GIS specialists' subgroup is the largest, comprising 18,672 postings primarily requiring GIS software and communication skills. — Results of the sub-group analysis
• sector_compositionGroup F, a miscellaneous category, contains postings with diverse skill requirements and less commonality between them. — Group F description
• sector_compositionWithin Group F, 'mapping' capability is the most prevalent skill cluster, covering 19% of postings. — Group F, mapping capability
• sector_compositionLogistics analysis accounts for 15% of Group F postings, typically from large companies in retail, transport, and manufacturing. — Group F, logistics analysis
• sector_compositionUrban planning appears in 15% of Group F postings, with employers including local councils and academic institutions. — Group F, urban planning
• sector_compositionEarth observation skills like imaging and remote sensing are found in a significant grouping within Group F, with over half of these postings in academic institutions. — Group F, earth observation skills
• sector_compositionGroup A and Group B are heavily reliant on GIS capability, while Group B and Group D feature advanced data processing and programming capabilities. — Links between subgroups

Suggested citation

Frontier Economics (2020). The economic impact of geospatial services. Geospatial Commission, UK Government.

Key findings (30)

• methodologyLinkedIn data are best at representing skilled labor in the knowledge-intensive, and tradable sectors. — GLOBAL
• methodologyLinkedIn data are not representative of the entire economy and are self-reported, they can uniquely capture segments of the economy that are among the most innovative, dynamic and high-value add. — GLOBAL
• methodologyYoung, skilled individuals with at least a bachelor’s degree are more likely than those with less education to be on LinkedIn, and women are more likely to be captured in LinkedIn than national statistics. — GLOBAL
• employmentEmerging sectors, such as renewables and environment and Internet have registered rapid employment growth in the past three years. — GLOBAL (2015-2017)
• employmentNewspaper and outsourcing sectors are in decline in countries in all income groups. — GLOBAL (2015-2017)
• skillsArtificial Intelligence skill penetration was 1.3% globally from 2015-2017. — GLOBAL (2015-2017)
• skillsThe skills with the largest increase in penetration across industries from 2015-2017 included Computer and Network Security, Internet, and Computer Software. — GLOBAL (2015-2017)
• workforceGlobal talent migration was 0.5% in 2015-2017. — GLOBAL (2015-2017)
• workforceThe Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region had a net migration rate of -0.9 per 10,000 LinkedIn members from 2015-2017. — MENA REGION (2015-2017)
• methodologyLinkedIn industry coverage is higher in high-income countries compared to lower-income countries. — GLOBAL (2016)
• employmentThe correlation between LinkedIn and Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) industry employment growth was significant for sectors like Information and Communication, and Professional, Scientific, and Technical Activities. — GLOBAL (Jan 2015 – Apr 2018)
• skillsThe top represented skill groups for the Online Media industry globally include Marketing and Advertising, Writing and Editing, and Motion Pictures and Film. — GLOBAL
• methodologyThe World Bank Group-LinkedIn partnership aims to evaluate LinkedIn data for policy insights, covering over 100 countries, 148 industries, and 50,000 skills. — Phase 1 of the partnership
• methodologyThis report documents the characteristics and coverage of LinkedIn data, the methods for developing new metrics, and showcases policy applications. — Three objectives of the methodology report
• methodologyLinkedIn data are best suited for representing skilled labor in knowledge-intensive and tradable sectors, showing good global coverage in specific industries. — Executive Summary
• methodologyLinkedIn's industry and skills classifications are not standard and require matching to international standards like ISIC and ESCO for easier analysis. — Executive Summary
• methodologyThe Industry Employment Location Quotient is calculated as the ratio of industry size in a specific locale to the average industry size across all locales. — Table 0-1
• employmentIndustry employment growth is measured as the rate of employment-level change over a period, using LinkedIn members' declared industries as a proxy. — Table 0-1
• skillsIndustry skills needs are determined by a weight that reflects how distinctive and representative a skill is within a specific industry. — Table 0-1
• skillsSkill penetration rate measures the trend of a skill across occupations within an industry, based on skill addition rates and frequency in top skills. — Table 0-1
• methodologyInter- and intra-country talent migration is measured as net migration, calculated from user-reported location changes. — Table 0-1
• methodologyMigration metrics for industries and skills gained/lost are calculated based on the industry and skills associated with a member's profile at the time of migration. — Table 0-1
• methodologyLinkedIn metrics are normalized by LinkedIn membership size in each country to ensure fair comparison across locations. — Executive Summary
• methodologyThe first phase of the WBG-LinkedIn collaboration focuses on industry employment, skills, and talent migration metrics. — Figure 0-1
• methodologyLinkedIn data show better coverage in developed than developing countries, but have good global coverage in knowledge-intensive and tradable sectors. — Executive Summary
• demographicsYoung, skilled individuals with at least a bachelor's degree are more likely to be on LinkedIn than those with less education. — Executive Summary
• demographicsWomen are more likely to be captured in LinkedIn data than in national statistics. — Executive Summary
• employmentLinkedIn data can answer policy questions about skills gained or lost with talent migration and recent sectoral employment trends. — Executive Summary
• methodologyThe project team mapped LinkedIn industry classifications against ISIC 4 standards to allow merging with external data sources. — Executive Summary
• methodologyLinkedIn data are self-reported and not representative of the entire economy but uniquely capture innovative, dynamic, and high-value add segments. — Executive Summary

Suggested citation

World Bank Group and LinkedIn (2018). Data Insights: Jobs, Skills and Migration Trends. Washington, DC.

Key findings (30)

• sector_sizeFrom 2008 up to 2020, the total investments in the Copernicus programme are forecasted to reach EUR 7.5 billion. — Copernicus programme investment forecast 2008-2020
• sector_sizeOver the period 2008-2020, Copernicus investment will generate a benefit of 13.5 billion. — Copernicus programme economic benefits forecast 2008-2020
• growthThe European EO Services industry (midstream + downstream) amounted to EUR 911 million in 2015. — European EO Services industry revenue 2015
• growthThe global EO downstream market is valued at EUR 2,8 billion in 2015. — Global EO downstream market value 2015
• growthThe global EO downstream market is expected to grow to EUR 5.3 billion in 2020, at an annual growth rate of 13%. — Global EO downstream market forecast 2015-2020
• sector_sizeThe European market share of the global EO downstream market was estimated at EUR 632 million in 2015. — European EO downstream market share 2015
• growthIn 2015, the benefits of Copernicus in the downstream market are estimated between EUR 28 and 54 Million. — Copernicus benefits in the downstream market 2015
• growthCopernicus benefits in the downstream market are expected to grow at an impressive 31% per year. — Copernicus downstream market growth rate forecast
• sector_sizeThe EO upstream segment in Europe is valued at EUR 1.6 billion. — European EO upstream segment value
• growthThe Copernicus programme is expected to result in the creation of about 48,000 jobs over the period 2015-2030. — Copernicus job creation forecast 2015-2030
• sector_sizeCopernicus is the 3rd largest data provider in the world, with 8 Petabytes per year. — Copernicus data provision volume
• growthThe EO downstream revenues related to Agriculture are valued at more than EUR 70 million in 2015. — EO downstream revenues for Agriculture 2015
• sector_sizeFrom 2008 to 2020, total investments in the Copernicus programme are forecasted to reach EUR 7.5 billion. — 2016
• growthOver the 2008-2020 period, Copernicus investments will generate a benefit of EUR 13.5 billion. — 2016
• employmentCopernicus investments are expected to support 12,450 job years in the downstream and end-user markets by 2020. — 2016
• employmentThe upstream sector is projected to support 15,580 job years due to Copernicus investments by 2020. — 2016
• sector_sizeIn 2015, the benefits of Copernicus in the downstream market were estimated between EUR 28 and 54 Million. — 2016
• growthThe Copernicus downstream market is expected to grow at an impressive 31% per year. — 2015-2020
• sector_compositionThe European EO data and services market was valued at EUR 632 million in 2015. — 2016
• growthThe European EO data and services market is projected to reach EUR 1,223 million by 2020. — 2016
• growthThe European EO data and services market is expected to grow at a 14% average annual rate from 2015 to 2020. — 2016
• sector_sizeCopernicus impacts on 8 selected value chains in 2015 were EUR 54 million. — 2016
• growthThe Copernicus impacts on 8 selected value chains are expected to grow to EUR 218 million by 2020. — 2016
• growthThe Copernicus impacts on 8 selected value chains are expected to grow at a 31% average annual rate from 2015 to 2020. — 2016
• sector_compositionIn Europe, 66% of EO companies were exploiting Copernicus data in 2015. — 2016
• sector_compositionIn Europe, 27% of EO companies were exploiting Copernicus services in 2015. — 2016
• sector_sizeCopernicus benefits in the Agriculture sector were EUR 13.7 million in 2015. — 2016
• growthCopernicus benefits in Agriculture are expected to grow at +38% annually up to 2020. — 2016
• sector_sizeCopernicus benefits in Forestry were EUR 6.2 million in 2015. — 2016
• growthCopernicus benefits in Forestry are expected to grow at +18% annually up to 2020. — 2016

Suggested citation

European Commission and PwC (2016). Copernicus Market Report. Brussels: DG GROW.