What is I-O Psychology?

The field of Industrial-Organizational (I-O) Psychology applies the science of psychology to all aspects of the workplace. "Industrial" refers to a wide variety of concepts related to personnel (e.g., selection, training, performance management), and "organizational" refers to concepts that apply more broadly to the organization as a whole (e.g., culture, change management, diversity). Another field of study related to I-O Psychology is Occupational Health Psychology (OHP). OHP is a separate, interdisciplinary field that focuses on employee health and wellbeing. Though OHP is not a sub-field of I-O Psychology, it is a natural extension for many I-O scientists and practitioners given the overlap between areas of interest. I-O psychologists who specialize in OHP issues often approach them from both a personnel and organizational perspective. 

As an I-O psychologist, you can contribute to the success of organizations by improving employee performance and wellbeing. According to the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP), I-O psychologists assist organizations by:

• Recruiting people that best fit the organization
• Hiring better people
• Retaining the best people
• Developing fair, legal and efficient hiring practices
• Improving the skills of the people within the organization
• Creating a diverse, qualified workforce
• Developing performance management systems
• Minimizing absenteeism
• Eliminating harassment and discrimination
• Fostering a team environment
• Increasing motivation and dedication

Growing Need for I-O Psychologists

The need for I-O Psychology is growing as organizations look towards evidence-based procedures in hiring, training, and retention of employees. Jobs in I-O Psychology can be found in every sector of the labor market, including fortune 500 companies, factories, sports teams, universities, nonprofits, government, and military just to name a few.

According to US News 2024 Best Jobs Rankings, I-O Psychologists ranked  

• #1 in Best Science Jobs
• #13 in Best STEM Jobs
• #22 in 100 Best Jobs

Where do I-O Psychologists work? 

For more information about the study and practice of I-O Psychology, check out these links:

• Our field's professional society, Division 14 of the American Psychological Association: www.SIOP.org

• Other SIOP links of interest:
  • I-O Career Paths
  • Student Resources (for current & prospective I-O students!)
• The Society for Occupational Health Psychology (SOHP): http://sohp-online.org/