Why Big Data Is a Big Opportunity for Employment

As data has transitioned from “nice to have” to a full-blown commodity, we’ve seen demand for data science and analytics (DSA) talent soar — along with opportunities for job-seekers and companies alike.

This is such a critical moment for data science, in fact, that industries across the board are bracing for talent shortages. Here’s why big data is such a massive opportunity — and one that needs the backing of educators at every level.

There are multiple data- and computer science-related skill areas which experts expect to remain in high demand throughout 2019 and beyond. These include:

There are more, too. But what about job numbers?

One 2019 report from Indeed indicated a 344% rise in the demand for data science specialists since 2013 and a 29% year-over-year increase. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects the operations research analysis and computer research information science fields to grow by 27% and 19%, respectively, by 2026, which they deem “much faster than average” growth.

Other job websites corroborate these numbers and note that it isn’t just tech companies looking for data scientists — job listings span the gamut of industries. With good reason, too. Data is the new oil, as they say — and it powers every corner of commerce and human enterprise.

For job-seekers everywhere, the implications are clear — if you have a head for numbers and an eye for detail, then big data and data science could be extremely lucrative and stable career tracks.

The fact is, big data has become a competitive advantage among companies in virtually every industry, from health care to logistics to supply chain management to merchandising analysis to marketing campaigns.

Data fuels companies large and small and keeps them fed with historical and real-time insights upon which to build business decisions, launch newer and more personalized products, engage in expansions and acquisitions, fine-tune outreach and marketing, and much more.

But the problem, according to Michael Chui of the McKinsey Institute, is that “it’s super hard to find the right talent.” Moreover, this lack of talent results in companies not fully understanding the opportunities that big data represents in the first place, such as clearer customer insights and leaner operations. In other words, it’s a catch-22 — we need more big data expertise to prove the value of big data expertise.

Nevertheless, the word is getting out.