Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is more than just mapping, it’s a powerful tool that supports decision-making in nearly every industry. If you’re exploring your future or considering a career switch, GIS opens up exciting opportunities in both traditional and emerging fields.

16 Career Clusters, Endless Opportunities

One of our favorite slides from Esri (see image below) outlines 16 major career clusters where GIS plays a central role. These include:

1. Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources
2. Health Science
3. Information Technology
4. Government & Public Administration
5. Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM)
6. Law, Public Safety, Corrections & Security
   …and many more.

Each pathway offers unique applications and career experiences, from analyzing spatial crime patterns in law enforcement to managing natural resources in environmental science.

From GIS to Location Analysis

At several higher education institutions, GIS is being rebranded as Location Analysis. This term more accurately reflects what GIS professionals do: they study where things happen, why they happen there, and what that means for people, businesses, and the environment.

GIS professionals collect and analyze data related to:

1. Location
2. Physical dimensions
3. Attributes of objects (like type, value, or condition)

Whether you’re tracking deforestation, planning urban infrastructure, or mapping disease outbreaks—GIS is at the heart of it all.

GIS and the Rise of AI

The field of GIS is becoming even more dynamic with the rise of Artificial Intelligence. AI enhances GIS by enabling:

1. Automated satellite image analysis
2. Predictive modeling for land use and urban planning
3. Real-time optimization for logistics and delivery systems

This convergence of AI and GIS makes the profession even more exciting and essential in today’s data-driven world.