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Market Researcher Job Outlook
Employment growth of market and survey researchers
is projected to be faster than average. Bachelor’s degree holders may face
competition for employment in these occupations. Job opportunities should be
best for jobseekers with a master’s or Ph.D. degree in marketing or a related
field and with strong quantitative skills.
Employment change. Employment of
market and survey researchers is projected to grow 20 percent from 2006 to 2016,
faster than the average for
all occupations. As companies seek to expand their market and as consumers
become better informed, the need for marketing professionals will increase. In
addition, globalization of the marketplace creates a need for more market and
survey researchers to analyze foreign markets and competition.
Marketing research provides organizations valuable
feedback from purchasers, allowing companies to evaluate consumer satisfaction
and plan more effectively for the future. Survey researchers also will be needed
to meet the growing demand for market and opinion research as an increasingly
competitive economy requires businesses to allocate advertising funds more
effectively and efficiently.
Job prospects. Bachelor’s degree
holders may face competition
for jobs, as many positions, especially the more technical ones, require a
master’s or doctorate degree. Among bachelor’s degree holders, those with good
quantitative skills, including a strong background in mathematics, statistics,
survey design, and computer science, will have the best opportunities. Job
opportunities should be best for jobseekers with a master’s or Ph.D. degree in
marketing or a related field and with strong quantitative skills. Ph.D. holders
in marketing and related fields should have a range of opportunities in many
industries, especially in consulting firms. Like those in many other
disciplines, however, Ph.D. holders probably will face keen competition for
tenured teaching positions in colleges and universities.
Market research analysts should have the best
opportunities in consulting firms and marketing research firms as companies find
it more profitable to contract for market research services rather than support
their own marketing department. However, other organizations, including computer
systems design companies, software publishers, financial services organizations,
health care institutions, advertising firms, and insurance companies, may also
offer job opportunities for market research analysts. Increasingly, market
research analysts not only collect and analyze information, but also help
clients implement analysts’ ideas and recommendations.
There will be fewer job opportunities for survey
researchers since it is a relatively smaller occupation. The best prospects will
come from growth in the market research and public opinion polling industry,
which employs many survey researchers.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor,
Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-09 Edition
Find related resources below:
Market Researcher Income
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