Analytics professionals celebrate ABS recognition
Data analyst and data scientist occupations part of ANZSCO update
Eighteen years after the Institute of Analytics Professionals of Australia (IAPA) was established, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) this week officially recognised two key analytics roles, Data Analyst and Data Scientist, in the latest update to the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO).
“The addition of data analyst and data scientist occupations to ANZSCO demonstrates the essential role of analytics in modern business,” said Annette Slunjski, Managing Director of the Institute of Analytics Professionals of Australia (IAPA). “It also recognises the importance of extracting value from data and the specialist skills and knowledge that analytics professionals deliver to the organisation.”
ANZSCO provides the basis for standardised occupation data and is used widely to inform and shape policy development, investment, educational pathways, skilled migration programs and workforce strategies.
The ABS announcement follows the recent release of research showing expansive demand for data analysts and data scientists in Australia. The Lightcast research, commissioned by the Australian Computer Society, analysed millions of unique online job postings in Australia since 2016. The research showed over 11,500 job postings for data analysts / data mining analyst in 2021, the third highest in ICT occupations, and data scientist job posts growing over the five years by 113 percent.
“Analytics professionals are the linchpin of data-driven business so have always been in high demand particularly in financial services, government, telecommunications, utilities and retail. As we move into a data economy every vertical and business is seeking analytics skills to keep up with the pace and demands of data-informed business,” commented Slunjski.
“Every business and government agency can benefit from analytics insight that highlights options to improve output or reduce costs. That make analytics professionals in hot demand across the board.”
IAPA supports analytics professionals and analytics teams with industry recognition programs, upskilling initiatives, networking and industry connections and excellence awards for analytics leaders.
“We're committed to aiding executive understanding of analytics' role in business transformation and data-driven decision making; as well as developing recognition of analytics professionals in the wider business community. We also assist and support organisations to find and retain staff, build high-performance teams, develop staff skills and enhance the perception of key analytics roles within the C-suite,” concluded Slunjski.
Individuals and analytics teams can benefit from IAPA via association membership at individual or corporate level.
