Become a Psychologist

Options for Industrial - Organizational Psychology Professionals

For those interested in a career in the field of Industrial-Organizational Psychology (I/O) there's good news. The I/O specialty offers some of the fastest growing and highly sought after psychology careers today.

The U.S. Department of Labor's Outlook Occupational Handbook projects employment of industrial-organizational psychologists to grow from 2006 to 2016 by roughly 21%, beating projections of 15% for psychology professionals in general during the same time period. The Handbook states that U.S. businesses will require the services of I/O psychology professionals to increase worker productivity and retention rates, and help companies deal with diversity and anti-discrimination issues.

Additionally, the tough economic conditions at the end of this decade require the expertise of Industrial and Organizational psychology professionals to help businesses manage rapid change and remain competitive. Because of the scope of these challenges, a wide range of job opportunities exist for those with a bachelor's, master's or PhD in I/O psychology.

These professionals can and do work in both the private and public sectors, in academic institutions as well as corporations and non-profits, and as in-house psychologists and consultants. Job titles and levels of responsibility depend on educational level and experience.

Typical positions for those with either a bachelor's or master's degree