Global Research Reveals Geospatial Workforce Skills Gap in AI Technologies
By Kevin P. Corbley
Global Research Reveals Geospatial Workforce Skills Gap in AI Technologies
The geospatial industry is experiencing one of the most significant transformations in its history, and the workforce is struggling to keep up. As artificial intelligence, machine learning, and automation rapidly reshape how geospatial data is collected, processed, analyzed, and delivered, employers are demanding new technical competencies at a pace that far outstrips the supply of trained professionals and graduating students.
That’s the conclusion of a far-reaching industry study conducted by Global Marketing Insights, a geospatial business development firm based in Ohio. With funding from the Management Association of Private Photogrammetric Surveyors (MAPPS), and GeoSearch (an executive search firm), and partner support from American Society for Photogrammetry & Remote Sensing (ASPRS), ENERGIS, Geospatial Professional Network, The GIS Certification Institute and the World Geospatial Industry Council (WGIC), the research involved in-person interviews and online surveys with almost 1000 individuals representing all levels of the geospatial community around the world.
Global Marketing Insights’ CEO Dr. Shawana Johnson, GISP, has presented results of the continually updated study at several geospatial conferences, most recently at Geo Week 2026 in Denver, under the title, “Empowering the Future: Trends Transforming the Geospatial Workforce” and “Tracking the Talent.”
“This widening skills gap is not a temporary fluctuation but a structural challenge that threatens the industry’s ability to meet accelerating demand across commercial, defense, intelligence, infrastructure, and global development sectors,” said Dr. Johnson.
Fortunately, the research study set out to understand the depth of this gap and identify how academia, industry, and government can work together to close it.
“IEEE GRSS and similar organizations are ideally positioned to rapidly help bridge the skills gap,” she said in an interview prior to her talk at Geo Week.
A Workforce Under Pressure
The demand for geospatial talent is accelerating across every corner of the ecosystem. Geospatial intelligence, remote sensing, LiDAR, imagery analytics, and mapping have become ubiquitous tools, no longer confined to specialized agencies or niche industries. Countless vertical sectors now rely on geospatial data for operational decision‑making. Yet the workforce pipeline is not keeping pace.
“The geospatial workforce is 10 to 15 years behind where employers need it to be in terms of skills,” said Dr. Johnson.
AI is at the center of this gap. Traditional GIS production roles are giving way to AI‑supervised analytics, automated workflows, and cloud‑native data pipelines. Employers increasingly expect new hires to understand not only geospatial fundamentals but also data science, machine learning, and advanced computational methods. This is true among employers in both the private and government sectors.
The research also highlights a mismatch between how universities prepare students and how employers evaluate candidates. Students report applying for “entry‑level” roles only to receive near‑instant automated rejections, often without any human review. Many feel their academic programs did not prepare them for the realities of the hiring process or the technical expectations of modern geospatial roles.
Where Academia Is Getting It Right
Despite these challenges, academia is not standing still. Many universities, especially those with long‑established GIS and geospatial programs, are evolving their curricula to better align with industry needs. Community colleges are expanding certificate and two‑year degree options, recognizing that many students prefer shorter, workforce‑ready pathways. These programs increasingly incorporate AI, machine learning, GEOINT, and cloud‑based analytics, often supported by partnerships with government agencies such as the U.S. Space Force, Dr. Johnson explained.
This shift toward mission‑aligned, research‑driven, workforce‑ready education represents a meaningful step forward. Universities are also strengthening internship and co‑op programs, creating more opportunities for students to gain hands‑on experience with real‑world geospatial challenges. These partnerships offer industry a direct channel to influence curriculum design, shape emerging talent pipelines, and raise awareness of meaningful career opportunities.
When these collaborations work well, they demonstrate the potential for academia and industry to jointly address the workforce gap, she said.
Where Academia Must Improve
The research also reveals substantial room for improvement. The most common complaint from students was simple but telling: geospatial employers rarely show up at campus career fairs. Many students, especially those outside geography or GIS programs, reported having little to no exposure to geospatial organizations or career pathways. Mathematics, physics, engineering, and computer science students, whose skills are urgently needed in the geospatial sector, often have no idea how to enter the field.
This lack of visibility is a shared responsibility. Universities must proactively cultivate relationships with geospatial employers, and industry must make a concerted effort to engage with academic institutions. The current landscape is fragmented with pockets of strong collaboration, but they are isolated and inconsistent. Some universities have thriving student chapters of professional organizations, while others have none. Some community colleges have robust industry partnerships, while others operate in near isolation.
Dr. Johnson said that to close the skills gap, these efforts must become widespread, coordinated, and sustained.
Next Steps: Building a Structural Solution
The geospatial workforce gap is real, structural, and persistent, Dr. Johnson concludes. It will not resolve on its own. Addressing it requires structural solutions, including long‑term, coordinated programs that unite government, industry, and academia. These solutions must expand student outreach, modernize curricula, strengthen internship and apprenticeship pipelines, and create clearer, more accessible pathways into the profession. Without such systemic collaboration, the industry will continue to struggle to attract, train, and retain the talent it needs.
“This is where IEEE GRSS and academic organizations like it can make a difference,” said Dr. Johnson. “The key is interaction among academia, industry, and government where the lines of communication are opened, so that universities know exactly what skills employers need from graduating students.”
And upskilling the existing workforce must not be ignored, she added.
Dr. Johnson, who has spoken at several IGARSS conferences, notes the GRSS Technology Industry Education (TIE) tracks are an excellent first step, but more progress is needed. GRSS recently announced plans to strengthen interaction with industry in the coming years. Current GRSS President, Dr. Saibun Tjuatja, discussed this goal in a recent GRSS article: www.grss-ieee.org/resources/news/grss-president-and-executive-vp-look-ahead-to-f…
