Occupation intelligence

information manager

Key facts

Are you passionate about ensuring the right information reaches the right people, at the right time? As an information manager, you'll be at the heart of knowledge flow, designing and maintaining systems that empower effective decision-making across organizations.

Summary

Information managers play a vital role in organizations, both public and private. Your work focuses on building and managing systems that allow people to easily access and utilize information. This involves a blend of theoretical understanding and practical skills in storing, retrieving, and communicating data effectively. You'll be responsible for ensuring information is accurate, secure, and readily available to those who need it, supporting efficient operations and informed choices.

Key responsibilities
  • • Designing and implementing information management systems and policies.
  • • Ensuring data integrity, security, and accessibility.
  • • Developing and delivering training on information management best practices.
29%
Resilience Score · 2026 (Higher is better)
Bachelor's or equivalent level 65% AI exposure
Start Career DNA assessment
Labour market

Where this occupation is in demand

Reported labour shortages and surpluses, by year. Published for occupation groups, not for individual job titles.

Shortage reportedSurplus reportedReported in another yearNot covered by this source

Deeper colour: reported the same way in more consecutive years.

Figures cover Legal, social and cultural professionals — 186 jobs including this one.

1 of 7 in shortage202517 of 30 growing2.7Mopenings to 2035

In shortage: Czechia.

Longest-running shortage: Luxembourg, 2 years.

Select a place on the map to see its figures.

About this source

Source: ELA/EURES labour shortages and surpluses. Readings are published at occupation-group level, and cover Europe. Editions differ in annex layout and country coverage, so a change between years does not always mean the labour market changed. Countries in grey were not reported, which is not the same as being in balance.

Explore More

Find your career path and explore the science behind our recommendations.

Guiding others? See NexPath for schools and practices.
Quick fit check

Could information manager fit you?

Answer three quick questions. This is not a full assessment — it is a teaser to help you decide whether to compare your profile.

Progress0/3

Do you enjoy tasks that require Integrity?

Do you enjoy tasks that require Dependability?

Do you enjoy tasks that require Relationships?

NexFuture™

Future Outlook for information manager

The outlook for information manager reflects a balanced mix of automation exposure and durable, human-led work.

How are these scores calculated?

The Resilience Score (0–100) estimates how structurally protected this occupation is from automation and AI disruption, based on task-level analysis. Higher scores mean more human-judgment-intensive tasks. AI Exposure shows the estimated percentage of task hours that current AI capabilities could affect. These are model-derived structural indicators, not predictions about individual job security.

Play the future

How could information manager change as AI adoption grows?

Several task areas may shift toward AI-assisted workflows, so reskilling becomes more important.

Significant task-level transformation is estimated in 10 years (around 2036) under the selected Expected Pace scenario.
~25%
Resilience
Automation Risk
EXP~70%
Human advantage
MOAT~25%

Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.

2026
2032
2041
AI Adoption Speed:

How AI may change this role

Deterministic, model-based interpretation of current role signals — not a guarantee of replacement.

Human-owned 29% Human-owned
What still depends on people
  • perform customer management
  • cooperate to resolve information issues
  • develop solutions to information issues
The Human Edge To stay ahead in this role, focus on corporate sustainability and data quality assessment. These human-centric skills are the hardest for AI to replicate in the next 20 years.
Assist 24% Assist
Where AI may become a co-pilot
  • evaluate project plans
  • analyse information systems
  • assess informational needs
Automate 65% Automate
Tasks most exposed to automation
  • manage digital libraries
  • perform data mining
  • manage information access aids
Detailed Analysis

Vital Signs & AI Vectors

AI Exposure Vectors

0-100%
AI / Machine Learning 24%

Exposure to AI-assisted analysis, pattern recognition, and predictive modelling tasks

Generative AI 9%

Exposure to content generation, creative augmentation, and large language model tools

Cognitive Software 9%

Exposure to workflow automation, decision-support software, and process digitisation

Robotic & Physical Automation 0%

Exposure to physical automation, robotics, and sensor-driven task displacement

Technical Details
Methodology: NexFuture v3.0 Sources: O*NET® 30.3, ESCO v1.2.1 Updated: Aug 2026

NexFuture v3.0 estimates automation exposure natively from ESCO essential-skill groups, weighted by skill mass and calibrated against expert anchors. Scores are probabilistic estimates, not guarantees. See the NexFuture Methodology White Paper for full details.

Measures automation exposure. It does not measure pay, demand, or how many jobs exist near you.

Day in the life

What people in this role usually do

Management & Entrepreneurship

Day in the life

A typical day as a information manager

09
09:00 · Morning
assess informational needs
Communicate with clients or users in order to identify which information they require and the methods with which they can access it.
10
10:30 · Mid-morning
evaluate project plans
Evaluate proposals and project plans and assess feasibility issues.
12
12:00 · Midday
analyse information systems
Conduct analyses of information systems such as archives, libraries and documentation centers to verify their effectiveness. Develop specific problem solving techniques in order to improve the performance of the systems.
14
14:00 · Afternoon
cooperate to resolve information issues
Meet up and communicate with managers, salesmen, and others to facilitate cooperation and resolve problems.
15
15:30 · Late afternoon
develop organisational information goals
Develop and interpret organisational information goals, creating specific policies and procedures.
17
17:00 · Wrap-up
design information system
Define the architecture, composition, components, modules, interfaces and data for integrated information systems (hardware, software and network), based on system requirements and specifications.

Task order is illustrative. Individual days vary.

Software & Technologies & Knowledge areas
Software & Technologies
3M EncoderAllscripts EHRAmazing ChartsAmerican Medical Association CodeManagerAzalea Health Azalea EHRBilling softwareCoding database softwareComChart EMRComputerized indexing systemsCorel WordPerfect Office SuiteCyber Records MediChart ExpressDigital Imaging Communications in Medicine DICOM medical imaging softwareDRG grouping softwareeClinicalWorks EHR softwareEHS CareRevolutionEkoElectronic medical record EMR softwareElectronic medical record EMR systemsElekta METRIQEmail software
Knowledge areas
  • corporate sustainability

    A business practice to conduct long-term sustainable growth by seeking environmental, economic, and social strategies as its three main pillars.

  • data quality assessment

    The process of revealing data issues using ​quality indicators, measures and metrics in order to plan data cleansing and data enrichment strategies according to data quality criteria.

Cross-sector skills
  • copyright legislation
  • knowledge base
Essential skills
managing, gathering and storing digital data
  • manage digital libraries

    Collect, manage and preserve for permanent access digital content and offer to targeted user communities specialised search and retrieval functionality.

  • perform data mining

    Explore large datasets to reveal patterns using statistics, database systems or artificial intelligence and present the information in a comprehensible way.

developing operational policies and procedures
  • develop information standards

    Develop norms or requirements that establish uniform technical criteria, methods, processes and practices in the information management based on professional experience.

  • develop organisational information goals

    Develop and interpret organisational information goals, creating specific policies and procedures.

managing information
  • manage information access aids

    Develop and maintain information access aids such as databases, digital bibliographies, web pages, software programs and online tutorials.

  • manage data

    Administer all types of data resources through their lifecycle by performing data profiling, parsing, standardisation, identity resolution, cleansing, enhancement and auditing. Ensure the data is fit for purpose, using specialised ICT tools to fulfil the data quality criteria.

analysing business operations
  • evaluate project plans

    Evaluate proposals and project plans and assess feasibility issues.

developing solutions
  • develop solutions to information issues

    Analyse information needs and challenges to develop effective technological solutions.

recruiting and hiring
  • recruit employees

    Hire new employees by scoping the job role, advertising, performing interviews and selecting staff in line with company policy and legislation.

engaging with others to identify needs
  • assess informational needs

    Communicate with clients or users in order to identify which information they require and the methods with which they can access it.

providing general assistance to people
  • perform customer management

    Identify and understand the customer's needs. Communicate and engage with stakeholders in designing, promoting and evaluating services.

Skill DNA

Skill DNA

Work personality traits and values that define this role

Key traits you need
Integrity Dependability Self-Control Stress Tolerance Attention to Detail Cooperation Initiative Adaptability/Flexibility Independence Analytical Thinking Concern for Others Persistence Achievement/Effort Leadership Innovation Social Orientation
Key rewards you can expect
AchievementWorking Condit…RecognitionRelationshipsSupportIndependence
Career progression

Growth Pathways & Similar Roles

Explore typical career progression paths, adjacent skills, and similar roles to plan your next transition.

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

What kind of background is helpful for becoming an information manager?
A strong foundation in information science, library science, computer science, or a related field is beneficial. Experience with database management, data analysis, and information architecture is also valuable. Analytical and problem-solving skills are crucial, alongside a keen attention to detail.
How does this role differ from a data analyst?
While both roles involve data, an information manager focuses on the *systems* and *processes* for managing information – ensuring it's organized, accessible, and secure. A data analyst typically focuses on *analyzing* data to identify trends and insights. Information managers often create the environment in which data analysts can do their work effectively.
What are the key work styles and values associated with this role?
This role thrives on individuals who are detail-oriented (1.C.4.a), organized (1.C.4.b), and methodical (1.C.5.a, 1.C.5.c). It also requires a commitment to accuracy (1.C.5.b) and a desire to contribute to a well-functioning organization (1.B.2.d, 1.B.2.f, 1.B.2.a, 1.B.2.b).
Information Manager — is there a shortage in Europe?
No. In the 2025 ELA/EURES edition, a surplus was reported in 6 of the 7 European countries that assessed this occupation group: Austria, Bulgaria, Germany, Spain and 2 more. One country reported a shortage. These assessments are published per occupation group rather than per job title.
Information Manager — what does it pay in the United States?
$67,310 a year at the median, as of 2025-05. State medians run from $27,040 to $93,300. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is a United States figure and not a projection for Europe.
Information Manager — is it a regulated profession?
It is listed as a regulated profession in 9 European countries: Netherlands, Romania, Croatia, Slovenia and 5 more. The lowest qualification level required among them is EQF 6. Where a profession is regulated, a qualification earned elsewhere has to be formally recognised before you can practise. Source: EU Regulated Professions Database.