Paul Barth
Data Literacy: An essential skill across all industries in 2022 The day is coming when data literacy will be so prevalent that everything that came before it will be a distant memory
W S k i lli n g
hile we’re in the midst of the “Great Reshuffle”, companies in the Asia Pacific and Japan region are reporting increased workforce volatility, with almost two-thirds (64%) of small and medium-sized enterprises reporting difficulties in coping with employee resignations, according to a SAP study released this April. Leaders are being misguided by the misconception that the need to hire has exceeded the growing need for specific skill sets, which could not be further from the truth. The key takeaway for businesses in 2022 is how data and analytics skills will
continue to grow in importance and prominence. Explicit requirements for these skills are expected among more job roles in 2022, including roles such as customer service, marketing, sales, and operations. Despite this, Qlik’s recent “Data Literacy: The Upskilling Evolution” report found that only 11% of employees are fully confident in their ability to work with data. As such, organisations that want to compete and remain driven by data, and not guesswork, should look toward data literacy to future proof their workforce. However, businesses cannot shoulder this alone. Schools and universities need to prepare new talent before they even walk through the door.
Obtaining the skills of the future
Do you remember the last time basic reading and writing skills were not required to get a job? Probably not. Likewise, the day is coming when data literacy will be so prevalent that everything that came before it will be a distant memory. That day is not here yet, but as it is, businesses are attempting to do more with data. While few will 22
| may 2022
