In spring 2020, EKOS were commissioned by The Data Lab to develop a framework for data skills that will be used to support the work of the Data Skills for Work programme, the upskilling and retraining strand of the Data Driven Innovation Skills Gateway initiative in the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region.

Data skills are increasingly in need and are being progressively integrated into many job roles, but employers still highlight data skill shortages. Current data education and skills provision is limited and fragmented and the skills system is complex, with no clear pathways for learners wanting to acquire data skills and identify routes into data jobs. Typical paths into data-related roles rely on the traditional Higher Education route, which is not delivering either the number or diversity of workers required to fill the growing regional and national demand for workers with the relevant skill sets to undertake both data worker and data professional roles.

EKOS were commissioned to conduct user research with organisations in the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region that could benefit from data upskilling; map research findings to produce a data skills framework; and identify and engage with training providers who can contribute to the development of data skills pathways.

Research programme

A framework for Data Skills

The Data Skills Journey framework sets out the key data skills and competencies required at four levels of data literacy

The Data Skills Framework aims to help employers, individuals and training providers to define the key skills and capabilities at each level of data literacy, supporting them to recognise existing data skills and areas where they could improve, plan for the future and make informed investment decisions, and develop learning to support this.

What employers told us

• Even among companies where a good level of data literacy was reported, nearly all felt there was scope for improvement.

• Employers emphasised the importance of foundational data skills at all levels, including among leadership in an organisation.

  Key skills requirements at each literacy level were identified as:

• Data Citizen: Data literacy, ethics & governance

• Data Worker: Analytics, visualisation, ethics & governance, data literacy

• Data Professional: AI/machine learning, analytics, ethics & governance

• Demand for data skills from employers is still emerging, in tandem with a relatively new and growing education offer in the City Region.

• Work with future Data Leaders is particularly important to increase awareness of the opportunity and drive data adoption, particularly in sectors where this has been slower.

• Although employers pointed to a range of skills providers they are currently accessing, the landscape is felt to be confusing. A framework can tie this together and show clear learning pathways.

• There is also a strong case for working to embed data literacy in wider workforce training programmes, such as those run by industry networks.

• The Citizen/Worker/Professional/Leader levels are well understood and should be adopted.

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About the Data Skills for Work Programme

The Data Skills for Work programme is led by The Data Lab, Scotland’s Innovation Centre for Data and AI. The programme is part of the wider Data Driven Innovation (DDI) Skills Gateway, which is led by the University of Edinburgh and funded (via the Edinburgh & South East Scotland City Region Deal) by the Scottish Government.