Careers in Industrial Organizational Psychology

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This is an interesting and growing area of psychology that offers good opportunities for growth and a diverse list of activities to keep you interested as the years go by. As an individual, from a career standpoint, becoming an organizational psychologist can open up many doors. Organizational psychologists must be knowledgeable in a variety of areas and are therefore highly versatile in their abilities, and have good people skills. For a person interested in the career field of Industrial-Organizational (I/O) Psychology there’s truly good news. The I/O specialty offers some of the fastest growing and most highly sought after psychology careers today.

What is the Job Outlook

According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Outlook Occupational Handbook, industrial-organizational psychologists’ employment is projected to grow from 2006 to 2016 by an estimated 21%. This projection is a significant increase over the 15% for psychology professionals in general during the same time period. The department handbook states that U.S. businesses will require the services of I/O related psychology professionals in efforts to increase worker productivity and enhance retention rates. People in this position also help companies deal with diversity and anti-discrimination issues.

Why is an I/O Psychologist Important?

The tough economic conditions experienced by all businesses at the end of this past decade required the expertise of Industrial and Organizational psychology professionals to help businesses manage rapid change and remain competitive. The scope of these challenges presented a wide range of potential pitfalls that companies required expert advice to circumnavigate. Because of these events, there is an increasing demand for those who possess a Bachelor, Master or PHD in I/O psychology.

Types of I/O Positions Available

Among the types of positions are Workforce Insights Analyst/Manager, who provides for the integration, analysis and reporting of a variety of workforce data in business decisions. The I/O applies this knowledge in several key areas, such as selection and placement, training and development, leadership, retention, performance measurement evaluation, and work-life quality. Other areas such as Professional Development and HR Organizational Development Specialist provide much the same insight and advice. All of the I/O titles are similar in nature with some broader and some more focused, but all are important in the ever changing business environment of today.

Why Are Careers in Industrial Organizational Psychology Important?

With thousands of pages of new regulations coming down from Washington and state capitals on a seemingly daily pace, it is important to have someone stay abreast of those changes who understand people and how it may affect them. This is far more than the clerical paper pusher image of the HR person. The I/O psychologist works to implement these changes as seamlessly as possible. It is not just the facts or the data that is the milieu of the I/O psychologist, but how those can be melded into a cohesive policy that enhances the productivity of the whole organization, large or small.

In the business world, it is becoming more difficult for one person to know all aspects of what affects people and businesses today. The I/O psychologist becomes part of a team that watches not only costs, but also the organization as a whole to keep it focused and healthy for years to come.