Over the next four years, big data analytics is expected to be one of the main drivers of economic growth, according to projections from the World Economic Forum. Future of Jobs Report 2023. Analytical thinking leads the way as the number one skill on the rise, with increasing demand this year, according to the findings of the same report, while data analysis appears sixth in LinkedIn’s top 10 most in-demand skills in 2024. report.
Organizations have many priorities that make data analytics a valuable skill to learn, including AI (artificial intelligence), big data, and a focus on data-driven decision making and business strategy. data.
This is also evidenced by the fact that job demand for data scientists is expected to continue to skyrocket until at least 2032, by as much as 35%, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, which is much faster than the average job growth rate in the United States. North America.
Thanks to demand, data analytics careers pay exceptionally well, leading to six-figure incomes, with data scientists earn on average more than $119,000 per yearas evidenced by current average salary figures on Salary.com
Why work in data analysis?
As if all of the above wasn’t enough, here are two more great reasons to pursue a career in data analytics:
First, data analytics is a highly transferable skill and a necessary function across all industries globally, similar to careers such as project management, which also share the same characteristics of global demand and transferability between sectors. You could work across a wide range of industries, from healthcare to finance, e-commerce, marketing and of course technology.
Secondly, it is the perfect time to learn data analysis, due to the acceleration and advancements in AI (artificial intelligence), which provide a useful boost to augment your work and ensure accuracy . Your data work may come at a critical time when an organization is looking to prepare its data for use in its internal AI tools and processes.
Free online courses on data analysis
Whether you’re looking to upskill or upskill, you may not have a lot of money available to invest in a course or further study in this field. However, some free courses can help you:
1. How to process, analyze and visualize MIT data
OpenCourseWare is an online platform that hosts courses from many of the world’s leading universities, including Ivy League schools, for free using a Creative Commons license. One such course, taught by the world-renowned MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), offers lectures and course materials on how to process, analyze and visualize data.
2. Google Advanced Data Analytics Professional Certificate
This free online course, offered through Coursera, comes with an added benefit: a professional certificate. Google Career Certificates are widely recognized by employers around the world, and getting one is a great way to accelerate your career growth and get invited to job interviews. The advanced version teaches, among other things, Python, machine learning, Jupyter Notebook and Tableau software, all of which you can add to the skills section of your resume, improving your chances of getting hired.
3. Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate
This course aims to guide you through data analysis at the beginner level and is a great introduction and starting point for more in-depth studies, such as the advanced course mentioned above. As with all Google Career certificates offered through Coursera, you have the option to apply for financial assistance to cover the cost of your course, subject to eligibility.
4. Professional Certificate in Data Science from HarvardX
Harvard University has partnered with edX to offer free courses to learners on the edX platform. Although you must pay for the entire training with the certificate, if you click on each module (course) in the certificate program on edX, it gives you the opportunity to learn the course material for free. To get the certificate, you will need to upgrade.
5. AWS Data Analysis
Amazon Web Services (AWS) offers a range of online certifications and continuing professional development training, tailored to specific technical career paths. One of these learning paths is their data analysis training. They offer this through free virtual training webinars and individual courses that you can study on your own or as part of their data analytics learning plan, such as Data Analytics Fundamentals or Data Analytics Best Practices. data warehousing.
Overall, choosing to pursue a career in data analytics is a decision you won’t regret. If you commit to continued professional development and explore new educational opportunities, you too can benefit from lucrative salaries, remote work opportunities, flexibility and diverse opportunities that others already enjoy in this profession.