Every year, thousands of students ask the same question: is data analytics still a good career bet? The 2026 numbers say yes. In Data Analyst Job Outlook 2026, 365 Data Science analyzed over 1,000 real job postings to map what employers actually want from data analysts today. The report adds a wider signal, citing a US Bureau of Labor Statistics projection of 23% job growth by 2032.
The research highlights four trends shaping the data analyst career in 2026:
Specialists are winning. Nearly 70% of job postings focus on a core set of skills such as SQL, statistics, and visualization rather than long lists of requirements. The takeaway from the research: master the core analytics toolkit deeply before expanding into adjacent areas.
Data visualization is the most in-demand skill. It appears in more postings than any other analysis skill, and dashboards remain the bridge between raw data and business decisions. Employers want analysts who can turn complex datasets into stories stakeholders understand.
AI is transforming the role, not replacing it. Machine learning mentions in job postings doubled year over year, and the report cites that 70% of analysts say AI automation makes their work more effective. The analysts who thrive are the ones who understand how AI-driven insights are produced and how to question them.
Communication is a technical skill now. Stakeholder communication appears in nearly 60% of postings, ahead of most hard skills. Analysis that no one understands is analysis that changes nothing.
Across all four, one theme repeats: the market rewards professionals who combine hands-on analytics skills with the ability to explain, question, and communicate data. That is data literacy, and it's exactly what the Qlik Academic Program helps universities build.
The program gives students free access to the full Qlik stack, from data integration and Qlik Cloud Analytics to Qlik Answers and agents, alongside courses, qualifications, and certifications. Students don't just read about visualization and AI-assisted analytics; they build dashboards, integrate real data, and learn how AI-driven decisions are made. Those are precisely the skills leading the 2026 hiring data.
Professors are supported too, with training and ready-to-use teaching resources that make it easier to bring analytics into the classroom, so curricula keep pace with a job market that is evolving faster than any syllabus revision cycle.
The report's conclusion is encouraging: the field isn't oversaturated for those with the right combination of skills. For students, the best time to start building that combination is before graduation, with real tools, real data, and credentials employers recognize.
By giving students, professors, and universities free access to analytics software, learning content, and certifications, the Qlik Academic Program helps learners graduate ready for a career field that the data shows is still growing.
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In April this year, REVA University, Bangalore inaugurated a Centre of Excellence in Analytics and AI supported by the Qlik Academic Program. The inauguration was a successful event with dignitaries from the University and officials from ICT Academy present.
REVA University is ranked 6th among State Private Universities in Karnataka and 47th in India (Source reva.edu.in)
Following the inauguration, REVA signed up students from its departments including Computer Science Engineering, AIML, AIDS, CSSE, ISE, IOT and CSIT.
There was a good amount of coordination between all departments due to the establishment of the CoE which also ensured structured training for students. One of the key benefit of the CoE is to have a physical space for coordinated training of the Qlik Academic Program courses.
Students were able to complete the training and appear for the exams offered under the academic program portal in a time bound manner. Almost all students completed the Qlik Sense Business Analyst Qualification successfully and few of them also completed the Qlik Sense Data Architect Qualification and the Data Literacy Qualification. The total qualifications gained by students were more than 1000 which is a commendable achievement considering the limited time span.
The number of students getting "Qlik ready" is a big plus for the Qlik ecosystem including its customers and partners and also students will get an edge in the job market where Analytics and AI skills are lacking.
To know how you can make your students career ready with analytics and AI skills, visit qlik.com/academicprogram to know more and register to access world class training and qualifications.
Artificial intelligence is transforming the way we work, make decisions, and solve problems. As AI becomes increasingly integrated into every industry, the expectations placed on graduates are changing too. Today, employers are looking for individuals who can do more than understand theoretical concepts. They want graduates who can confidently work with data, uncover insights, and use analytics to drive better decisions.
Artificial intelligence is everywhere. It's writing emails, generating images, analyzing data, and transforming how businesses operate. With headlines predicting that AI will replace jobs, it's understandable why many students are asking an important question:
Technology has moved from the edge of education to its core. As Nilesh Patel, Global Solution Head for Education at TCS, argues in Higher education in 2026: Emerging tech trends, the real shift isn't just adopting new tools, it's building digital architecture that learns and scales with learners. The article also points to a wider signal: a TCS study found that 61% of universities lag in digital maturity, putting higher education at a digital crossroads.
The piece highlights four trends shaping higher education in 2026:
Lifelong learning and employability. Learners now see education as a career-long continuum, focused on outcomes and employability. AI-powered adaptive systems support this by adjusting course difficulty, content, and feedback to each learner's path.
Stackable microcredentials and flexible pathways. Education is shifting toward skill-oriented credentials that reflect what learners can do, letting them customize pace and focus while aligning with industry needs.
Collaboration between universities, EdTech, and industry. Skill gaps and fast-moving technology make partnerships essential, institutions provide academic rigor, EdTech offers scale, and industry ensures relevance.
Experience and engagement. AI and GenAI, immersive XR, learning analytics, and stronger cybersecurity and data governance are redefining how students learn and how institutions protect trust.
Across all four, one theme repeats: the future of higher education depends on blending technology with trust,responsible AI adoption, ethical oversight, and transparency.
This is exactly where the Qlik Academic Program supports academic communities. The program offers Qlik solutions end to end, from data integration and Qlik Cloud Analytics to Qlik Answers and agents alongside certifications, qualifications, and courses. By putting data literacy at the center of learning, students develop the ability to read, question, and explain data while working hands-on with the full analytics stack: integrating data, building insights, and understanding how AI-driven decisions are made.
Professors are supported with training and teaching resources that make it easier to embed analytics and modern data topics across disciplines, helping institutions move from static curricula toward the responsive, data-driven ecosystems the TCS article describes.
As Patel puts it, the future belongs to those who build with foresight, stay transparent, and treat technology as a partner in progress, not a replacement for purpose. Preparing students to work confidently with data, alongside AI, is central to that.
By giving students, professors, and universities free access to analytics software, learning content, and certifications, the Qlik Academic Program helps education stay aligned with the trends shaping 2026 and prepares learners for the jobs of tomorrow.
Join our global community for free: Qlik Academic Program: Creating a Data-Literate World
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Qlik, the leaders in user-driven business intelligence, has developed the industry’s only end-to-end data platform combining data sourcing, data preparation, and data analysis tools in one robust toolset.
With support forreal-time data integration, modern data management, smart data cataloging, and AI-fueled analytics, Qlik helps you bring distributed, diverse data together fast and makes it available to users in a governed environment to transform all your data into real value.
Qlik’sData Integrationlayer helps you turn your raw data into analytics-ready information assets by enabling you to:
Move data at scale in real-time through streaming data pipelines with change data capture
Automate the design, deployment, and management of data warehouses and data lakes
Make trusted data easily accessible to users via a secure, enterprise data catalog
Qlik’sData Analyticslayer allows you to turn your data into valuable insights by empowering users with intuitive, AI-powered tools that let them explore your data without boundaries.
Source: qlik.com
Once students and professors sign up for the Qlik Academic Program, they receive training, qualifications and certifications on aspects of data including data integration, analytics, predictive analytics etc. Its a lot of value for the academic community and the best part? Its all free.So if you are a student or professor looking to propel your career, you should check out this program and discover all the benefits of the industry's only end-to-end data platform.
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One of the core goals of the Qlik Academic Program is to help students develop practical analytics and AI skills that complement their academic studies and prepare them for the workplace.
Over the past few weeks, we had the opportunity to support two very different—but equally valuable—student learning experiences in the United Kingdom and Poland. While one focused on preparing students for the Qlik Business Analyst Qualification, the other explored advanced predictive analytics and AI capabilities with master's students looking to deepen their technical expertise.
Together, these sessions demonstrate the breadth of opportunities available through the Qlik Academic Program and the importance of connecting students with both industry-relevant skills and real-world technologies.
For students looking to stand out in today’s competitive job market, summer offers more than just a break from classes — it’s one of the best opportunities to build valuable skills in analytics and AI. As industries across the globe rapidly adopt data-driven decision-making and artificial intelligence, employers are increasingly looking for candidates who can work with data, uncover insights, and understand modern AI-powered technologies. The good news? Students don’t need to wait until graduation to start developing these skills.
Summer creates the perfect environment to explore analytics and AI in a flexible, low-pressure way that can have a lasting impact on future careers.
This year, in April, we inaugurated two new Centers of Excellence ( CoE) under the Qlik Academic Program, in the Silicon Valley of India, i.e Bangalore. The new CoEs mark a new beginning for training and skilling students in Qlik technologies along with other activities like datathons.
Reva University is one of the leading Universities in the State of Karnataka and is ranked among the top universities in the region. The School of Computer Science and Engineering took the lead in this initiative and has established the CoE. Strategic Partner of the Qlik Academic Program, ICT Academy established the connection with Reva and ensured that arrangements were made as per the requirements of the CoE.
The second CoE was established in Sai Vidya Institute of Technology ( SVIT) which is a well known institution for engineering students. Many students have earned their degree qualification from here. The Department of Computer Science Engineering have been coordinating to establish the CoE. Many initiatives are planned by SVIT to take this engagement ahead.
The previous CoEs are functioning successfully in VJIT Hyderabad, Anurag University Hyderabad and Kristu Jayanti University Bangalore. Many students have got trained and qualified from the CoEs here. Along with this, they have hosted various events including datathons successfully.We hope to establish more CoEs this year and create a physical space for students to get trained under the Qlik Academic Program.
To learn more about the academic program, please visit: qlik.com/academicprogram
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For many years, data analytics education focused primarily on building dashboards and visualizing historical data. While these skills remain important, the analytics landscape is rapidly evolving. Today, organizations are looking for graduates who can do far more than create charts and reports. They need students who can work with AI-powered analytics, understand predictive thinking, and interact with data in more intelligent and conversational ways.
