As a leading data market, the UK is currently experiencing a myriad of change.
As businesses still reel from the Pandemic, some in recovery, some in growth, many are also in a state of paralysis, where critical business decisions need to be made.
There is a complex, almost visceral feeling in the air; frustration from candidates desperately trying to navigate the completely saturated job seekers market, confusion from SLT’s and c-suite around AI and the part it will inevitably play in their business’ future, and uncertainty propelled by global political and economic instability.
However, change breeds opportunity, and we have probably seen more change from a technological perspective in the last 5 years than we have in the previous 50.
So, it’s not just an optimal time for companies to rethink their medium-term business strategies, but the same goes for candidates in how they shape their own skill profiles. Reflecting on how data roles have had to evolve in the last 4 years, should inform how we perceive the role of data experts moving forward.
Agility, adaptability and growth will all be very important traits sought in new hires. Senior leaders are also already applying a new lens to how data teams are structured and positioned within the organisation.
Data is now being reorientated as a revenue generating unit rather than a cost centre, and data as a ‘value creation’ driver is the new culture we see emerging.
As we move towards 2025, we predict skills in AI Governance, Data Governance, Data Engineering and Data Enablement will be at the forefront of the hiring conversation, as well as a steady trend in hiring ‘blended skillsets’ in analytics and data science becoming the norm, rather than traditional, siloed and fragmented roles. The Pandemic allowed people and businesses to pivot and grow at a pace we’ve never seen before, and the resulting data profiles we see across the current market, need to be embraced and nurtured.
A new era of data skills sets are already available in abundance, and smart businesses leaders will recognise and hire these individuals into their teams to drive innovative and future focused ways of working, truly allowing for AI adoption and significant enterprise wide cultural change.
A steep hill to climb, but once the momentum kicks in, we’ll see another huge wave of transformation occurring.
Exciting times ahead!