National Conclusion

National Employment Trend Chart Analysis

2016 vs 2021 Pie Chart Map Comparison

Over the past decade, the country has experienced an expansion in cartography positions. The industry is growing alongside technological advancements. In the early 2000s, the number of employed cartographers was increasing at a rate exceeding 10% every year, as represented by the above chart. As technology continues to advance, cartography employment rates will continue to rise as well.

The national employment trend for environmental scientists also includes hydrologists and foresters. Over the past decade, there has been a general increase in the number of employed environmentalists with some small declines. In the early 2000s, there was a quick increase of employment as society became more aware of humanity's global impact in addition to a push towards clean energy. Compared to the other researched fields, environmental scientists comprise a large portion of the employed workforce, with over 110,000 employees. In 2017, there is a predicted decrease in the industry, which is most likely influenced by politics.

While the environmental scientist workforce decreases, there is an increase in petroleum engineers, which is illustrated in the above charts. As the nation pushes towards clean energy and minimizing environmental impact, there will be a juxtaposition between the two careers. Over the next few years, there will be a steady increase in employed petroleum engineers. The industry will undergo short periods of lows and highs influenced by the changing price of oil per barrel. Importing oil from other countries and industry regulation have impacts on petroleum engineers. However, fossil fuels remain a necessity until a cleaner, more viable option is implemented. In the next 5 years, petroleum engineers are predicted to have an increase in employment opportunities.

The chart above illustrates the cyclical nature of the mining industry. There are periods of industry fluctuations. Currently, in 2016, the nation is in a low period with reduced employment. However, within the next two years there is a predicted growth that will most likely be followed by a decline. This increase in employment by 2018 is influenced by under production, industry de-regulation, and environmental impacts. Similar to petroleum engineers, mining engineers are also influenced by environmental scientists. As environmental scientists have an increase in employment, the mining industry will face a decrease.

Cartographers and photogrammetrists will comprise a small portion of careers throughout the United States. From 2016 to 2021, there is a predicted percent increase in almost every state, as illustrated in the above maps. In 2021, Oregon, Kansas and South Carolina will have proportionally larger employment rates of cartographers when compared to other states. One reason is due to the lack of mining or petroleum careers within those states. As predicted by the chart graph, there is a nationwide increase in the cartography workforce.

For both the 2016 and 2021 maps, it is shown that a large percent of the workforce are environmental scientists. When compared to the other researched industries, environmental scientists have a greater percent along both the West and East Coasts. From 2016 to 2021, in states like Illinois, Indiana, Montana, Tennessee, in the mideast of the country, there is a steady decrease in mining and petroleum careers with an increase in environmental scientists. This reinforces the idea that these fields counterbalance each other.

Petroleum engineering and fossil fuel exploration has remained a large factor in the southern portion of the nation, especially in Texas. In 2016, there are petroleum engineers throughout the midwest with the greatest density of employment being in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Wyoming, and Pennsylvania. Over the next 5 years, while there is a predicted increase in employment is it within states that already have a petroleum presence. The petroleum industry does not spread to new states, but rather increases the number of individuals employed within states like Texas, Louisiana and Pennsylvania.

The map for 2016 shows the mining industry in a period of employment decline, while 2021 illustrates a period following an increase of employment. When compared to the other studied fields, mining has a strong presence in a small number of states: West Virginia, Utah, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Kentucky. With the predicted rise in 2021, these states should continue to have the highest percent employment of the industry. With industry fluctuations, other states experience periodic closures of mines and layoffs during lows and reopening of the mines during highs. Therefore, those interested in the mining industry should consider states that are less influenced by these fluctuations; states such as West Virginia, Utah, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Kentucky.