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Useful experience for data analysts includes:

• previous experience in data-related jobs such as data entry and research
• on-the-job training through IT internships
• data-related study and projects
• volunteer work involving data.

Data analysts may:

• find out what information clients need to make good business decisions
• gather or choose data for analysis
• ensure the data is reliable 
• identify trends and patterns within data
• interpret numbers to gain business insights
• create written or visual reports.
  

Data analysts in demand

Demand for data analysts is strong because:

• organisations collect large amounts of digital data 
• they need to make sense of this data to gain insights and make sound decisions.

Shortage of experienced data analysts

There are not enough experienced data analysts to meet demand. Nearly two thirds of IT employers report skills shortages, and there aren't enough information technology (IT) trainees.

Developer programmer, database administrator, ICT business analyst and systems analyst appear on Immigration New Zealand's long-term skill shortage list. This means the Government is actively encouraging skilled data analysts from overseas to work in New Zealand.

According to the Census, 29,202 developer programmers, database administrators, ICT business analysts and systems analysts worked in New Zealand in 2018.

How to get your first IT job 

You can improve your chances of getting an IT job through:

• internships like Summer of Tech
• graduate programmes offered by IT companies
• events such as hackathons
• mentoring programmes.

Types of employers varied

Employers of data analysts include:

• tertiary institutions
• retail, marketing and finance companies
• pharmaceutical and telecommunications companies
• government and public sector organisations.

IT Professionals

0800 252 255 - info@itp.nz - itp.nz

NZTech

(09) 475 0204 - info@nztech.org.nz - www.nztech.org.nz

Data analysts may progress into roles such as:

• data scientists, who use more sophisticated techniques to deal with higher volumes of data
• data engineers, who build the systems to capture data and the statistical analysis programs that data analysts use.

Data analysts may specialise in:

• business intelligence – using a variety of specialised software and methodologies to analyse data
• data assurance – checking for and correcting errors in data
• data quality – assessing how well the data is able to answer particular questions.

Data analysts may specialise in industry sectors such as:

• finance
• tertiary education
• marketing and sales.

Data analysts need to be:

• highly analytical
• curious and detail-oriented
• good at problem solving
• creative thinkers
• good communicators.