Data is everywhere, and the amount of information being created and shared every single day is mind blowing. But, this data is useless without a translator — and that’s where data analytics comes into play.
Data analytics is the art of identifying, collecting, organizing and analyzing data. Professionals working in data analytics are tasked with making predictions using data, all with the goal of making better business decisions and driving an industry's growth.
Every single field relies on data analytics in one way or another and, as such, data analyst professionals may find jobs in data analytics in diverse, competitive industries. So, let’s talk about just a few industries that offer jobs in data analytics.
Entertainment
Every single day, people consume media and entertainment in myriad formats. Consumers expect on-demand, personalized content, so the media industry needs skilled data analysts who can identify trends and improve targeting and suggest media based on the consumer’s behavior and preferences.
Some entertainment platforms that employ and rely on data analysts include:
- Spotify
- Amazon Prime
- Netflix
- Hulu
Healthcare
In healthcare, analysts are tasked with examining specific datasets in an effort to support better decision making at both the patient and business levels. Healthcare organizations are seeking data analytics professionals who can identify data-backed trends in order to assess needs, reduce costs, provide more accurate diagnoses and improve patient care.
Data analysts seeking a job in the field of healthcare may find work in a variety of settings, including:
- Hospitals and clinics
- Public health centers
- Health insurance companies
- Government agencies
- Diagnostic centers
Sustainability
Organizations that are concerned with environmental security and sustainability greatly benefit from data analytics. By using data analytics, professionals in these fields can track, monitor and improve specific environmental initiatives that greatly impact the future of our communities and our planet.
Data analytics can be used to improve critical things like:
- Energy efficiency
- Food security
- Recycling initiatives
- Infrastructure upkeep
- Smart grid management
Banking
Banking (and other security-driven fields) rely on data analytics every single day to combat fraud and ensure quality control. In fields related to financial banking, data analytics can also be used to identify market patterns and predict results that drive an industry’s overall strategy.
Data analysts working in this field may also use their skills to combat:
- Illegal trade
- Fraud detection
- Misuse of funds
- Money laundering
- Use of unencrypted data
Marketing
Marketing is all about reaching your target audience and providing them with your services. Marketing agencies understand the need for data analytics professionals who can identify trends, interpret the data points and use that information to make better decisions and increase an agency’s bottom line.
Data analytics professionals working in marketing use their skills to gain insights into the following:
- Product intelligence
- Customer behavior
- Development trends
- Messaging and media
- Best business practices
These are just a few of the many, many industries that rely on data analytics, and here are a few more fields that benefit from data analytics:
- Government
- Manufacturing
- Space exploration
- Education
- User experience
- Military
- Retail
- Transportation
- Infrastructure
Data analytics job outlook
The field of data analytics is one of today’s most popular and impactful industries. With over 97 percent of companies around the globe investing in some form of improved data, jobs in data analytics are seeing massive growth and launching careers in every industry.
And with starting salaries between $65,000 to $115,000, it’s clear that studying data analytics provides you with a great path to making six figures. There’s also never been a better time to enter the field, as jobs are growing 23 percent over the next decade — that’s much, much quicker than the average field.
Learn more about the Mount’s online Professional Development Certificate in Data Analytics
As you consider obtaining an online Professional Development Certificate in Data Analytics at Mount Saint Mary’s University, it is important to understand what sets us apart and how our programs will prepare you for success.
The Data Analytics Certificate program will prepare students to:
- Evaluate and apply fundamental statistical concepts in the context of a broad range of data problems, including Bayes Theorem, common statistical test and biases, inference and causal inference and hypothesis testing
- Perform in-depth exploratory analysis to form hypotheses and use visualization techniques to communicate insights
- Design experiments to answer causal questions and evaluate the results of the experiments
- Apply and evaluate machine learning algorithms in a business problem context, with an emphasis on selective predictive modeling only when appropriate
- Perform feature engineering and data preprocessing in order to improve the accuracy and efficacy of predictive models
With expert faculty and hands-on project training, you will emerge from the online Data Analytics program with the cutting-edge skills needed to lead as an expert in your industry — click here to apply for free.
