Where Geographers Work
Many geographers pursue rewarding careers in education; business; local, state, or federal government agencies; and nonprofit organizations. These sectors can be described as follows:
- Education - The education sector includes K through 12 institutions, colleges and universities that award at least a two-year degree, continuing education and informal education, higher education faculty, educational administration, and academic research positions.
- Business - The business, or private, sector refers to the segment of the economy composed of enterprises owned by individuals or groups. Most have clear policies and procedures, centralized operations, access to financial and training resources, and a culture that values consistency and coordination.
- Government - Nearly 2 million civilians—1.8 percent of the U.S. workforce—are employed by the federal government, while state and local governments employ 19.8 million workers (BLS 2010). Geography's emphasis on addressing real-world problems and issues is excellent preparation for public sector employment, particularly at the local and state levels where much policy innovation, implementation, and bottom-line responsibility reside. Applicants new to the public sector may find the broad, integrative perspective offered by academic training in geography to be an asset.
- Nonprofit - Roughly nine percent of the U.S. workforce (12 million individuals) are employed by an estimated 1.4 million nonprofit organizations, whose causes and values span the entire political spectrum. Because nonprofits explicitly strive to create a better world (as defined by their mission statements), they offer great opportunities for job seekers hoping to make a difference.
