Insights from senior data leaders and employees underline the primary contributors to the data skills deficit within their organisations.
Among these are:
Insights from senior data leaders and employees underline the primary contributors to the data skills deficit within their organisations.
Among these are:
These findings suggest that the strategy to tackle the data skills gap should extend beyond traditional human resource considerations like talent acquisition and development. It should also focus on organisational cultural aspects influencing change management. On the other hand, employees point out the main challenges they face in keeping up with evolving data skills and knowledge, including limited time for learning and skills development (44%), rapidly changing technology and tools (36%), insufficient support or budget from the organisation (33%), limited access to relevant and up-to-date training resources (32%), and difficulty in identifying the most relevant skills to focus on (30%). These insights emphasise employee barriers, highlighting the need for comprehensive support systems and resources to facilitate continuous learning and skill enhancement. Implementing effective data skills training programmes is not without its challenges, including keeping pace with rapidly evolving technology (28%), addressing the lack of data literacy skills among line managers (27%), and identifying relevant skills gaps (27%). These findings emphasise the importance of aligning training programmes with the dynamic nature of technological advancements and addressing skills gaps across different levels of organisations.
The frozen middle – a lack of data-driven leaders
Chief data and analytics officers (CDAOs) are poised to be of increasing strategic importance to their organisations. Still, many are struggling to make headway, according to data presented by Gartner at the Gartner Data & Analytics Summit in May 2023. Fewer than half (44%) of data and analytics leaders say their teams effectively provide value to their organisation.
Caroline Carruthers
CEO, Carruthers and Jackson
Caroline Carruthers, CEO of Carruthers and Jackson, addresses the underappreciated necessity for senior leaders to be equipped with data-driven decision-making capabilities. Carruthers' viewpoint does not dismiss the role of experience and creativity in leadership roles but advocates for data literacy to complement these aspects. She acknowledges the discomfort of change while painting a promising picture of the future where a fusion of data literacy and business skills could unlock immense potential for any organisation.