By: Melody Finnemore
The Portland-Tribune, January 14, 2017
As disasters — both natural and manmade — strike across the country and around the world, emergency management is evolving from a reactive response after a disaster occurs to a more proactive approach that focuses on mitigation, resilience planning and strengthening continuity.
Correspondingly, the number of job opportunities in these emerging professions is growing. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates 6 percent growth between 2014 and 2024 for emergency management directors, who are charged with planning for disaster response and coordinating with public safety officials and government agencies to lead recovery efforts during and after emergencies. The bureau notes that while emergency management directors typically work for state and local governments, private companies, hospitals and health systems, and nonprofit organizations also are seeking to add these professionals to their teams.
Job growth for the business continuity profession is expected to grow by 4.8 percent through 2024 and, at an average annual salary of $73,480 is among the top 50 percent of careers for salary, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Certification associations such as the Disaster Recovery Institute state that the business continuity profession increasingly includes skills and expertise directly related to disaster recovery.
Given the unpredictability of Mother Nature and the tragic rise in violent attacks across the U.S., the need for emergency management, resilience planning and business continuity professionals will only continue to grow.
