The important part is the mix of disciplines, as stated above. “GIS” Jobs are becoming the realm of the developer. As the technology becomes more and more accessible, it becomes increasingly important to have GIS skills in combination with something else, to become the XXXX Analyst.

This is not to discount GIS. Without this skill-set, many of these multi-disciplinary positions become limited or impossible.

Sometimes this means a stronger focus on GIS Skills, sometimes it means a stronger focus on the other skill in question. The most impressive thing these days is that people with little or no GIS training, are able to do more and more GIS Analysis using these tools, ensuring the future of GIS specialists and developers, while allowing people to find their place in an increasing spectrum of positions/titles/disciplines.

Welcome to the messy not so easy to define future! Gotta love it.

Trends have been changing, and the new trends have diverted the skilled professional into non-perishable business lines such as retails, service business such as HVAC,Plumbing,Piping designing and finally into Engineering sectors.
A day will come/came when skilled GIS related specialist will be in scarce..This is my analysis from the recent time.

Thanks
-Kalai

I think there are a few problems.

First, 100% pure GIS-centric positions are very limited. Most GIS positions are hybrid in nature requiring or mixing with other skill sets.

Second, GIS positions seldom viewed as a stand-alone function but rather as an application. Thus, when we talk about GIS analyst position, we almost have to talk about GIS of which industry and for what applications?

Third, many companies do not view GIS as a separate function or professional discipline but rather as add-on to the core position functions. Therefore, many GIS positions are classified under other categories. Many companies push the functional staffs to pick up GIS skills rather than hiring new GIS professional.

Four, GIS functions rest on other core functions and this immediately suggests the compulsory requirements of the vertical functions of the core functions. For a planning department, the GIS staff is expected to have planning knowledge. Many companies consider being economical to train functional staff to act as GIS analyst rather than hire a GIS staff and train the staff on the core business.

Five, GIS requires substantial investment in IT and database, in setup and maintenance (to be worthwhile and functional). This operating scale and high cost barrier makes most GIS functions are in government sector and perhaps only in a handful private companies. This limits the adaptation of GIS analysis functions in commercial world.

Six many companies do not understand the power of GIS and how its applications can help the company bottom line. To use GIS, the company needs preprimary data for GIS. Many companies do no have such data and is not GIS ready. It becomes difficult for senior management to see and justify the creation of GIS position in the organization. Many companies still think GIS is mapping.

There are different levels and direction in using GIS. It ranges from GIS data creation, GIS data collection and editing, GIS and database administration, GIS spatial analysis, GIS developer/programmer, GIS Power user, to GIS causal user and GIS data Viewer. If you look at all these functions, you can see how hard to define what GIS function in an organization.

I have many years professional GIS working experience, many years in government sectors -started from GIS spatial analysis to GIS data collection, editing and creation. I have some exposure in integration GIS technology with other technologies such as API, aerial imagery, web technology, oracle database and data modeling. I also have business background, but now working in engineering field with good exposure in CADD as well. Yet, with all these exposure for these years, I still not sure what is the edge all my exposures would bring – especially in private sector?

I have seen the popularity of GIS grows, but not in new GIS position openings. I have seen the function of GIS grows within the department but in an informal and decentralized settings rather than growing into a pure GIS analyst position.

My worry is that would GIS much like Web technology that it starts as a professional discipline but now grows to very informal. I learned to write HTML codes probably 6 to 7 years ago, but now everyone is a bloger, and almost everyone has a web page, and every company has a web site.
What should we do as a GIS professional?

Location Intelligence first – learn why ‘geo’ is so valuable. The ‘how’ will evolve. For some, yes, GIS software will be needed – for most, knowing the value proposition for the company will lead to acquisition of the appropriate part of the geo-tech. A full featured GIS is rarely the solution – most of the features simply have no value to the business challenge.

Today we are overwhelmed by position of supremacy of geodata. Society lives in a state characterized by slogan ‘Geo-data inside’. We are anchored in large masses of data without evolution towards a new era in which the spatial analyst is the next ‘lead ahead’.

This radical change in perspective, against the spatial data, is not easy. It requires a certain maturity on the part of the management teams of organizations. They have to know the capabilities afforded by GIS in decision making.

The current status of the potential lack of GI-Science is not by chance. It may be due to a deficit of disclosure about the possibilities of spatial analysis.

If they do not know which questions can be formulated, it is difficult that can reply from the spatial analysis. In these times of crisis, spatial analysis have an opportunity of showing their potential.

How can improve this situation?.Perhaps achieving greater visibility on the web of the achievements and results of some spatial analysis. Geo-blogs and social networks can contribute to the growth of a greater demand for spatial analysis.

In a market where business benefit and added value needs to be demonstrated, GIS professionals need to be delivery focused and know that technology is not the solution but the application of the appropriate technology will solve the problem. The ability to integrate information and the creators of the information is key.

Having done many interviews of GIS professionals this year, my main concern is the quality of the qualifications. A one year Masters and expecting a top salary is quickly found out when the core skills and data understanding is absent.

Dirty data still persists so don’t believe everything you see espcially if it’s mashed up from unknown sources.