---
name: industry-research-framework
description: |
  Structures deep industry research covering key players, business models, trends,
  job market dynamics, and entry points. Produces a comprehensive research brief
  document for career decision-making.
  Use when the user wants to research an industry before a career move, understand
  a new market for job targeting, or conduct due diligence on an industry they are
  considering entering.
  Do NOT use for company-specific research before an interview (use company-research-guide),
  competitive analysis for business strategy (use competitive-analysis), or market
  research for a product (use market-research skills).
license: Apache-2.0
metadata:
  author: foundry-skills
  version: "1.0.0"
  tags: "career analysis research planning"
  category: "career-development"
  subcategory: "career-growth"
  depends: ""
  disclaimer: "none"
  difficulty: "intermediate"
---

# Industry Research Framework

## When to Use

- User wants to research an industry before making a career move
- User asks to understand the landscape of a specific sector or market
- User needs to evaluate an industry for career entry or transition
- User wants a structured overview of key players, trends, and opportunities in a field
- User asks "is [industry] a good field to get into?"
- Do NOT use when: user needs company-specific research for an interview (use `company-research-guide`), user wants competitive analysis for business strategy (use `competitive-analysis`), user wants market research for launching a product (use market research skills)

## Process

1. **Define the research scope.** Clarify what the user needs to know:
   - Target industry or sector name
   - User's purpose for the research (career entry, career change, investment decision, general understanding)
   - Geographic focus (global, national, regional)
   - Current knowledge level (knows nothing, has some familiarity, works in adjacent field)
   - Specific questions the user wants answered

2. **Map the industry structure.** Identify the foundational elements:
   - Industry definition and boundaries (what is included, what is adjacent)
   - Market size (revenue, number of companies, number of employees)
   - Major segments or sub-sectors within the industry
   - Value chain: who produces, who distributes, who sells, who services
   - Regulatory environment: key regulations, licensing requirements, compliance burdens

3. **Identify key players.** Catalog the major organizations:
   - Top 5-10 companies by market share or revenue
   - Notable startups or disruptors challenging incumbents
   - Key trade associations, standards bodies, or industry groups
   - Major investors or funding sources active in the space
   - For each company: what they do, approximate size, reputation, hiring activity

4. **Analyze business models.** Understand how money flows:
   - Dominant business models in the industry (SaaS, consulting, manufacturing, licensing)
   - Revenue drivers and cost structures
   - Margins and profitability patterns (high margin vs. volume-based)
   - How the business model affects employee compensation and career paths
   - Emerging business model shifts (e.g., moving from on-premise to cloud)

5. **Assess industry trends.** Identify the forces shaping the future:
   - 3-5 major trends affecting the industry in the next 3-5 years
   - Technology trends (automation, AI, digitization, platform shifts)
   - Regulatory trends (new laws, deregulation, international standards)
   - Market trends (growth, consolidation, geographic expansion)
   - For each trend: direction (growing/shrinking), speed (gradual/rapid), impact on jobs (creates/eliminates/transforms)

6. **Evaluate the job market.** Assess career viability:
   - Most common roles and titles in the industry
   - Compensation ranges for entry-level, mid-level, and senior roles
   - Required skills and qualifications (degrees, certifications, experience)
   - Hiring demand (growing, stable, declining) with evidence
   - Geographic concentration of jobs
   - Remote work prevalence
   - Typical career progression paths

7. **Identify entry points.** Map how someone enters the industry:
   - Direct entry roles (no prior industry experience required)
   - Transferable skill paths (which adjacent industries feed into this one)
   - Educational pathways (degrees, bootcamps, certifications that employers value)
   - Networking entry points (events, communities, associations to join)
   - Common first steps for career changers

## Output Format

```
## Industry Research Brief: [Industry Name]

**Prepared:** [Date]
**Purpose:** [Why the user is researching this industry]
**Geographic focus:** [Region]

---

### Industry Overview

**Definition:** [What this industry encompasses and where it draws boundaries]
**Market size:** [Revenue, companies, employees -- approximate figures or ranges]
**Growth trajectory:** [Growing/stable/declining + supporting evidence]

### Industry Structure

| Segment | Description | Size (Relative) | Growth |
|---------|------------|-----------------|--------|
| [Segment 1] | [What it covers] | [Large/Medium/Small] | [Growing/Stable/Declining] |
| [Segment 2] | [What it covers] | [Large/Medium/Small] | [Growing/Stable/Declining] |
| [Segment 3] | [What it covers] | [Large/Medium/Small] | [Growing/Stable/Declining] |

**Value chain:** [Producer] -> [Distributor] -> [Seller] -> [End customer]
**Regulatory environment:** [Key regulations and compliance requirements]

### Key Players

| Company | Segment | Size | Known For | Hiring? |
|---------|---------|------|-----------|---------|
| [Company 1] | [Segment] | [Revenue/employees] | [Reputation/specialty] | [Active/Moderate/Limited] |
| [Company 2] | [Segment] | [Revenue/employees] | [Reputation/specialty] | [Active/Moderate/Limited] |
| [Company 3] | [Segment] | [Revenue/employees] | [Reputation/specialty] | [Active/Moderate/Limited] |
| [Company 4] | [Segment] | [Revenue/employees] | [Reputation/specialty] | [Active/Moderate/Limited] |
| [Company 5] | [Segment] | [Revenue/employees] | [Reputation/specialty] | [Active/Moderate/Limited] |

**Disruptors/Startups to watch:** [Company], [Company], [Company]
**Key industry groups:** [Association 1], [Association 2]

### Business Models

| Model | Prevalence | Revenue Driver | Employee Impact |
|-------|-----------|---------------|-----------------|
| [Model 1] | [Dominant/Common/Emerging] | [How it makes money] | [Compensation, career path] |
| [Model 2] | [Dominant/Common/Emerging] | [How it makes money] | [Compensation, career path] |

### Industry Trends

| Trend | Direction | Speed | Impact on Jobs |
|-------|----------|-------|---------------|
| [Trend 1] | [Growing/Shrinking] | [Rapid/Gradual] | [Creates/Eliminates/Transforms roles] |
| [Trend 2] | [Growing/Shrinking] | [Rapid/Gradual] | [Creates/Eliminates/Transforms roles] |
| [Trend 3] | [Growing/Shrinking] | [Rapid/Gradual] | [Creates/Eliminates/Transforms roles] |

### Job Market Assessment

**Demand level:** [High/Medium/Low] -- [Evidence]
**Compensation ranges:**
- Entry-level: $[X]-$[X]
- Mid-level: $[X]-$[X]
- Senior: $[X]-$[X]

**Most in-demand roles:** [Role 1], [Role 2], [Role 3]
**Required qualifications:** [Degrees, certs, experience]
**Geographic hotspots:** [City/Region 1], [City/Region 2]
**Remote work:** [Common/Limited/Rare]

**Career progression:** [Entry role] -> [Mid role] -> [Senior role] -> [Leadership role]

### Entry Points

**Direct entry roles:** [Role 1], [Role 2] -- [What qualifies someone]
**Best transferable backgrounds:** [Adjacent field 1], [Adjacent field 2]
**Education paths:** [Degree/certification 1], [Degree/certification 2]
**Networking entry:** [Event/community 1], [Event/community 2]

### Assessment Summary

| Factor | Rating | Notes |
|--------|--------|-------|
| Growth outlook | [Strong/Moderate/Weak] | [Why] |
| Compensation | [Above/At/Below market] | [Compared to what] |
| Entry difficulty | [Low/Medium/High] | [What makes it easy or hard] |
| Job security | [High/Medium/Low] | [Stability factors] |
| Remote flexibility | [High/Medium/Low] | [Industry norms] |

### Recommended Next Steps

1. [Specific action to deepen understanding]
2. [Specific networking or research action]
3. [Specific skill-building action if entering the industry]
```

## Rules

1. Always produce a complete research brief document -- never generic industry observations or advice about "doing your research"
2. Every section must contain specific, structured information -- tables, ratings, and concrete data points rather than vague descriptions
3. NEVER fabricate specific revenue figures, compensation numbers, or company data that the user has not provided -- use ranges and qualitative assessments when exact data is unavailable, and indicate when figures are approximate
4. All company references must be framed as examples of industry participants, not endorsements or recommendations
5. Trends must include their impact on jobs (creates, eliminates, or transforms roles) -- industry research for career purposes must always connect back to career implications
6. The entry points section must include at least one path for career changers with no prior industry experience
7. Geographic focus must be respected throughout -- do not mix global data with regional assessments without labeling
8. Include both positive and negative factors in the assessment summary -- do not produce a one-sided sales pitch for or against an industry
9. If the industry is in decline, state this clearly with evidence rather than soft-pedaling with euphemisms
10. The recommended next steps must be specific to the user's stated purpose and current knowledge level

## Edge Cases

- **Very niche industry (fewer than 100 companies):** Acknowledge the small market size. Adjust expectations for hiring volume. Focus more deeply on the specific companies and roles available rather than broad market trends. Highlight the advantages of niche industries (less competition, specialized expertise valued highly).
- **Emerging industry with limited data (e.g., a new technology sector):** Flag that the industry is early-stage and data is limited. Focus on growth signals, funding activity, and adjacent industry comparisons rather than mature market metrics. Note that compensation ranges and career paths may not yet be standardized.
- **User is researching for a career change from a very different field:** Add a "transferable skills bridge" section mapping the user's current skills to industry needs. Identify the specific roles most accessible to career changers and note which skills are hardest to acquire without industry experience.
- **Industry is heavily regulated with licensing requirements:** Emphasize the regulatory section. List specific licenses or certifications required for common roles. Note the time and cost to obtain them. Flag whether the user's current credentials transfer or whether they would need to start from scratch.
- **User asks about a broad sector (e.g., "tech" or "healthcare"):** Ask the user to narrow to a specific sub-sector. Offer 3-5 sub-sector options with brief descriptions and let the user choose. "Tech" is too broad -- "enterprise SaaS" or "health tech" or "cybersecurity" is researchable.

## Example

**Input:** "I'm a mechanical engineer working in automotive manufacturing. I'm thinking about moving into the renewable energy sector, specifically solar. Can you help me understand the solar industry and whether it's a viable career move?"

**Output:**

## Industry Research Brief: Solar Energy

**Prepared:** [Current date]
**Purpose:** Career transition from automotive manufacturing (mechanical engineering)
**Geographic focus:** United States

---

### Industry Overview

**Definition:** The solar energy industry encompasses the design, manufacturing, installation, maintenance, and financing of photovoltaic (PV) and concentrated solar power (CSP) systems for residential, commercial, and utility-scale applications.
**Market size:** Approximately $50-70B in annual US revenue; 250,000+ direct jobs across manufacturing, installation, development, and operations
**Growth trajectory:** Strong growth -- solar installations have grown 20-30% annually over the past decade, driven by declining panel costs, federal incentives, and state renewable mandates

### Industry Structure

| Segment | Description | Size (Relative) | Growth |
|---------|------------|-----------------|--------|
| Utility-scale solar | Large solar farms (10MW+) for grid power | Large (60-70% of capacity) | Strong |
| Commercial/Industrial | Rooftop and ground-mount for businesses | Medium (20-25%) | Growing |
| Residential | Home rooftop solar and battery systems | Medium (10-15%) | Growing |
| Solar manufacturing | Panel, inverter, and component production | Medium | Mixed (growing demand, competitive imports) |
| Solar services | O&M, monitoring, asset management | Small but growing | Strong |

**Value chain:** Raw materials -> Cell/panel manufacturing -> Project development -> Installation -> Operations and maintenance -> Grid integration
**Regulatory environment:** Federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC), state-level Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS), net metering policies, interconnection regulations, building codes for rooftop systems

### Key Players

| Company | Segment | Size | Known For | Hiring? |
|---------|---------|------|-----------|---------|
| [Major utility developer] | Utility-scale | 10,000+ employees | Largest US solar developer | Active |
| [Major residential installer] | Residential | 15,000+ employees | Direct-to-consumer solar | Active |
| [Panel manufacturer] | Manufacturing | 5,000+ employees | US-manufactured panels | Active |
| [Inverter company] | Components | 3,000+ employees | String and micro-inverters | Moderate |
| [Project developer] | Commercial | 2,000+ employees | C&I solar development | Active |

**Disruptors to watch:** Solar-plus-storage integrators, community solar platforms, solar financing startups
**Key industry groups:** Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC)

### Business Models

| Model | Prevalence | Revenue Driver | Employee Impact |
|-------|-----------|---------------|-----------------|
| Project development (EPC) | Dominant | Engineering, procurement, construction contracts | Strong demand for engineers and PMs |
| Residential sales/install | Common | Customer acquisition + installation fees | Sales and installation roles dominate |
| Manufacturing | Common | Panel and component sales volume | Factory and QA engineering roles |
| O&M services | Emerging | Long-term service contracts | Growing demand for field technicians |

### Industry Trends

| Trend | Direction | Speed | Impact on Jobs |
|-------|----------|-------|---------------|
| Battery storage integration | Growing | Rapid | Creates new roles in energy storage engineering |
| Manufacturing reshoring | Growing | Gradual | Creates US manufacturing and supply chain roles |
| AI-driven site optimization | Growing | Gradual | Transforms development roles, adds data roles |
| Grid-scale deployment acceleration | Growing | Rapid | Creates project management and engineering demand |
| Distributed energy resources | Growing | Gradual | Creates microgrid and community solar roles |

### Job Market Assessment

**Demand level:** High -- industry adding 15,000-25,000 jobs annually
**Compensation ranges:**
- Entry-level engineer: $65,000-$85,000
- Mid-level engineer/PM: $85,000-$120,000
- Senior engineer/director: $120,000-$170,000

**Most in-demand roles:** Project engineers, electrical design engineers, project managers, site assessors, O&M technicians
**Required qualifications:** Engineering degree (mechanical, electrical, civil) + industry-specific knowledge; NABCEP certification valued for installation roles
**Geographic hotspots:** California, Texas, Florida, Southwest states, with growing presence nationwide
**Remote work:** Limited for field roles; common for design, development, and corporate roles

**Career progression:** Project Engineer -> Senior Engineer -> Project Manager -> Director of Engineering -> VP of Operations

### Entry Points

**Direct entry roles:** Project Engineer, Mechanical Design Engineer, Quality Engineer -- mechanical engineering background directly applicable
**Best transferable backgrounds:** Automotive manufacturing (mechanical design, quality systems, production engineering), construction management, electrical engineering
**Education paths:** Engineering degree (already held), NABCEP certification (optional, 3-6 months), solar-specific short courses
**Networking entry:** SEIA events, local solar industry meetups, renewable energy job boards

### Assessment Summary

| Factor | Rating | Notes |
|--------|--------|-------|
| Growth outlook | Strong | Federal policy support, declining costs, climate targets drive sustained growth |
| Compensation | At market | Comparable to automotive manufacturing; slightly lower at entry, comparable at senior |
| Entry difficulty | Low | Mechanical engineering background is directly transferable; high demand reduces barriers |
| Job security | Medium-High | Policy-dependent but multi-decade infrastructure buildout provides stability |
| Remote flexibility | Medium | Design and corporate roles remote-friendly; field and project roles require on-site |

### Recommended Next Steps

1. Search for "solar project engineer" and "mechanical design engineer solar" job postings to compare specific requirements against your current skills
2. Connect with 3-5 engineers on LinkedIn who made the automotive-to-solar transition -- ask about their experience and what they wish they had known
3. Research NABCEP certification to determine if it would strengthen your candidacy or if your ME degree is sufficient for your target roles
