The Job Market

Because their synthesizing skills are in demand in a complex urban society and because of the diversity of career paths available, the job market for properly trained professional planners is excellent. The outlook for the job market in fields related to urban and regional planning has been and continues to be promising. Each year, the demand for URP graduates exceeds the number of students available to take full-time planning-related positions. Urban and regional planning is a growing profession, having emerged only in the last 70 years in the United States. Throughout much of the profession's history, it focused on creating master plans for cities and was undeniably a public sector occupation. Starting in the 1970's several career paths began to emerge in both the public and private sectors utilizing the skills, knowledge, and attributes of the trained planner.

Today's URP alumni work decidedly in the public sector, especially in the first job after graduation. However; as depicted in the graph below, there is a substantial migration from the public sector to the private sector after the starting position.

Career Paths

Professional planners directly affect the quality of lives for everyone. Whether working for government agencies or private firms, planners address such diverse issues as where we live, work and recreate; how we get from place to place; and what our communities and neighborhoods look like. Planning positions exist at a variety of locals doing such things as creating and implementing master plans, transportation plans, and redevelopment projects; working as economic development coordinators, city managers, housing authority directors, and brownfield redevelopment specialists; and being involved in promoting historic preservation, neighborhood revitalization, and resource conservation. It is interesting to note that not many of our URP alumni change careers from their original planning focus. Indeed, 84% of them start their careers in urban and regional planning related fields and continue on in that direction. Only 16% change out of the planning field. One of the unique selling points of an Urban and Regional Planning degree is the diversity within the job market that it allows the graduate. The following is just a sample of the many types of planners:

• Aviation
• Housing
• City
• Neighborhood
• Community
• Regional
• Community Development
• Site
• County
• Transportation
• Health
• Economic Development
• Urban or Urban Renewal
• Environmental
• Zoning Administration

Job Placement Services

We understand that one way to increase the benefit to society of the education, training, and research that takes place on campus is to insure that its graduates experience the most meaningful career opportunities possible. As a result, the URP Program takes the necessary steps to:

1. Instruct students about the multiple career paths available to Urban and Regional Planning graduates
2. Insure students have job hunting and career development skills
3. Inform students and alumni of current openings

These objectives are accomplished through the Program in concert with services provided by the University. The Program Director's office is the hub of information about current jobs and career trends. The office subscribes to several job opening services relevant to planners and distributes information to students and alumni through a variety of means including the Job Board, mailings, and direct contact. The Director's office learns about a high percentage of job openings from calls and letters from employers who are familiar with the Program. An up-to-date list of job openings, internship opportunities, and career information is maintained on the bulletin board outside the Program's Main Office.

MSU's Career Services and Placement office is located in 113 Student Services Building. Announcements for many job openings are kept in the Job Listings book kept in the Career Development Center (Suite 6) of the Student Services Building. These jobs include permanent positions, as well as summer and part-time employment. Though this is a very good source for career and employment information, the bulletin board outside Room 212 UPLA Building is a better source for positions in the Urban and Regional Planning field.

The following is a list of position titles that our alumni have and now hold to give you an idea of the type of positions you will be qualified for and the list by no means is exhaustive. The opportunities are limitless.

• Broker
• Bureau Environmental Officer
• Chief of Planning Assistance & Neighborhood Development
• City Administrator
• City Manager
• Database Developer
• Deputy Director of Institutional Development
• Deputy Director of the Bureau of Transportation
• Planning Development Specialist
• Director of Commerce & Economic Development
• Director of Facilities
• Director of Planning, Building, or Zoning
• Planning Assistant
• Engineer
• Assistant-Junior Planner
• Environmental Programs Planner
• Environmental Scientist
• Executive Director of Downtown Development Authority
• Family Savings Account Worker
• General Manager
• GIS Developer
• GIs Services Coordinator
• Grants Coordinator
• Housing Development Project Coordinator
• Human Settlements Officer-Transport Focal Point
• Land & Facilities Management, Office of the President
• Land Acquisition Agent
• Loan Officer
• Location Analyst
• Manager of Outreach Activities
• Marketing Director
• Passenger Policy Specialist
• Planning Analyst
• Planning and Zoning Officer
• Planning Consultant
• Planning/Housing Specialist
• Professor (Assistant or Associate)
• Program Analyst
• Project Architect
• Project Control Engineer
• Project Coordinator or Manager
• Redevelopment Specialist
• Research Associate
• Senior Long Range Planner
• Site Location Analyst
• State Hazard Mitigation Officer
• Supervisor of Systems Planning
• Technical Analyst
• Technician
• Zoning Administrator, Inspector, or Manager