Final report: The situation of skilled professionals in the field of geoinformation
Geoinformation is the invisible backbone of our society – from climate research to infrastructure planning. But while the demand for accurate and up-to-date spatial data is exploding, there could be a gap in the next generation of professionals. The final report on the situation of skilled professionals in the field of geoinformation concludes that, in view of the major demographic change, the geoinformation industry must also set the course for the future.
As part of the Swiss Geoinformation Strategy (SGS), the federal government and cantons are pursuing the goal of making geoinformation easily accessible and networkable. Action area 6 of the SGS is explicitly dedicated to securing skills. On behalf of swisstopo, econcept AG analysed the current situation in order to quantify the demand for qualified workers, identify the causes of the shortage and propose concrete measures tailored to the various stakeholders.
Who will produce tomorrow's public geodata?
The conclusions of the report apply not only to federal and cantonal authorities, but to all users of geoinformation. All stakeholders – the federal government, cantons and industry – must coordinate their efforts to attract and train tomorrow's skilled professionals, thereby ensuring the continuity and quality of geodata production.
Key findings
Analysis of data on training and the labour market paints a picture of stagnation, while demand is rising:
- Initial professional training: for ten years, the number of apprentices in geomatics has remained stable at a low level, around 600 per year. The below-average rate of terminated apprenticeship contracts is encouraging.
- Higher professional training: There has been a slight downward trend in the number of geomatics technicians since 2021, with a low point reached in 2024.
- University level: The number of graduates from universities (approx. 900 per year) remains stable, but is growing at a significantly slower rate than in other subject areas.
- Labour market: De facto, there is full employment. The unemployment rate is extremely low, which significantly increases the pressure on companies and authorities in terms of recruitment.
Assessments and causes
In interviews with experts, several obstacles to attracting skilled workers were identified:
- Low profile: The geoinformation profession is often perceived as a “niche” and is not sufficiently visible to the general public.
- Competitive pressure: The industry competes with the IT sector for talents. Salaries in the geoinformation sector are sometimes considered less competitive.
- Location factors: Workplaces are often located far from urban centres, which can reduce their attractiveness to young skilled workers.
Useful links
- Read the full report here (in German):
- Geomatics apprenticeship at swisstopo: Geomatician