In developing the Data Curation Education Program (DCEP) at the Graduate
School of Library and Information Science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-
Champaign, we have been engaged in a continuous, multi-faceted needs assessment of
the range of data service needs for scientists and scholars across domains to inform
curriculum development. The DCEP is training LIS professionals for employment
across a range of information-oriented institutions, including data centers, libraries and
institutional repositories, museums, archives, and private industry. As the data curation
field matures, it is essential to assess required skill sets in relation to current jobs, as
well as emerging or anticipated roles. This study uses current job postings as a source
for analyzing the types of jobs emerging, the kinds of institutions looking for
professionals with data curation skills, education requirements for current positions,
and expectations for different categories of skill sets.published or submitted for publicatio
