The Economy at Large and Why you Should Care

Information services are an integral part of any organization. Information professionals are responsible for managing and using data and information. This requires expertise of various information tools and systems, an ability to access and analyze data and information (in all its formats), and have facility with current and emerging technologies. As technology improves, the demand for professionals with these skills rises. Information professionals are necessary for companies and countries to prosper, especially in this globally competitive environment.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) characterizes the information sector as one of the seven supersectors within service-providing industries¹ including trade, transportation, and utilities; financial activities; professional and business services; education and health services; leisure and hospitality; and other. According to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), the information sector includes “three types of establishments: (1) those engaged in producing and distributing information and cultural products; (2) those that provide the means to transmit or distribute these products as well as data or communications; and (3) those that process data” (BLS website).