One of the most important skills to have in the workplace today, for both leaders and employees, are data analysis skills. In today’s day and age, in both the workplace and our private lives, we constantly submit, receive, and encounter data due to the rise in the use of technology. Every online transaction, every message sent, and every social media post we react to produces and submits data.
A lot of occupations across the globe have now begun to rely heavily on technology, and are continuing to become more technologically-advanced than ever. Data especially comes in handy for businesses in order to help them understand their clients better, improve their marketing strategy, determine which aspects can be improved in their organization, and how to become more profitable. But if they lack employees with the necessary skills to analyze it, they might not be able to reap all the benefits that consumer and organizational data has to offer.
This is why organizations have started to acknowledge that data analytics is an important skill they must look for when hiring individuals. According to the Cisco Networking Academy, there are recent studies which reveal that 82% of employers and company leaders put data analysis at the top of their list of key attributes in terms of driving competitiveness. They also found that 60% of organizations still want senior leadership to have data analysis skills, even if they are already in a senior position.
Not only are data analysis skills important because they are in high demand today, but employees are able to acquire better problem solving skills by learning how to think analytically and approach problems in the correct manner. Employees who possess these skills will surely be a vital member of any team because of their ability to analyze data and towards improved decision-making.
Luckily for current and future employees, as intimidating as data analytics sounds, there are now open and accessible tools such as Jamovi and Microsoft Power BI which provide a variety of common statistical methods to help users easily treat and analyze statistical data, create compelling data storytelling and present powerful data visualizations. Through the use of these software, they can begin to practice and master these skills for future opportunities.
With that being said, there is no better time than now to start learning the basics! Data analytics does not just teach employees to be good with numbers, but it helps them learn to think outside of the box and grow their communication skills, which will definitely result in career advancement in these modern times.
Sources:
- Cisco Networking Academy. (n.d.). Learn Why Employers want Techies with Data Analysis Skills. Cisco Networking Academy. Retrieved October 23, 2022, from https://www.netacad.com/careers/career-advice/essential-skills/learn-why-employers-want-techies-data-analysis-skills
- GetSmarter. (2017, April 10). Why Data Analysis is the Most Lucrative Skill to Have. GetSmarter. Retrieved October 23, 2022, from https://www.getsmarter.com/blog/career-advice/data-analysis-lucrative-skill-right-now/
- Herzing University. (n.d.). Why Business Students Need Data Analysis Skills.
Retrieved October 23, 2022, from https://www.herzing.edu/blog/why-business-students-need-data-analysis-skills
- SAS: Analytics, Artificial Intelligence and Data Management. (n.d.). 5 reasons why everybody should learn data analytics. SAS. Retrieved October 23, 2022, from https://www.sas.com/en_au/insights/articles/analytics/5-reasons-why-everybody-should-learn-data-analytics.html