It wasn’t that long ago landing a job in data meant filling your resume with advanced SQL, Python, R, Pig or PySpark among many others. Those are still important, sure, but coding skills are no longer the advantage they used to be. With the rise of AI and smarter data tools, the technical barrier to entry is (a lot) lower than it was before, and it’s just going to get lower from here.

So what does that mean for us who spent hundreds (or thousands) of hours practicing, memorizing, and fine tuning our understanding of coding languages? Well, it wasn’t all for nothing! Technical knowledge beyond a GPT prompt can still keep you ahead in the field. But for us that prioritized the technical side of the job, this upcoming year is our time to really focus on the professional side: business communication, better storytelling, connecting with our audiences to really drive those business solutions and be more than a slide deck or dashboard.

Now, more than ever, employers are looking for data professionals who can communicate through complexity, tell stories that lead to action, and understand the business just as well as the tech side of the job (if not more).

This week’s issue is all about those professional skill sets that make the difference. But first, have you taken this 30 seconds reader survey? It REALLY helps improve future issues.

This Week’s Highlight —
The Path Ahead in Data Is Looking Less Technical

We’re entering a phase where technical skill alone won’t set you apart anymore. AI and modern tooling are taking over a lot of the heavy lifting, which means the real differentiator is shifting toward how well you can communicate, tell a story, and help a business solve a problem.

Several things are changing fast:

This shift isn’t about doing less technical work but rather about making sure your technical work actually leads somewhere.

Think about the last report you delivered. If you paired it with a short walkthrough, explained the “so what,” and tied it back to a real goal your team cares about… that’s the part people remember. Two analysts can produce the same output, but only one moves the needle.

For your next deliverable, add a short section along the lines of:
“Here’s what this means and what we can do next.”

That single expansion of any analysis can make all the difference.

Ready to learn more in under 5 minutes? These TL;DR reads will keep you ahead without slowing you down.

What Recruiters Are Really Looking For in Data Talent by Data Decoded
Recruiters aren’t just scouting technical skills, they want data people who think in business terms, own full-cycle workflows, and translate insights into action. Technical skills still matter, but storytelling, communication, and adaptability are quickly becoming the competitive edge. Read more

As Companies Stop Hiring Nationally, Small Businesses Struggle to Fill Job Openings by Bruce Crumley
According to a new NFIB survey, about one-third of small businesses say they can’t find suitable candidates, even though most are hiring. That suggests demand is real but the supply side (qualified, business-savvy data talent) is shrinking and have not been met. Read more

Big Data, Big Problem: Coping With a Shortage of Talent in Data Analysis by Sean Peek
Demand for data analysts is surging, but there aren’t enough qualified people according to the World Economic Forum 2025 report. Companies struggle to hire or retain analysts, even though data-driven decision-making is exploding. Talent shortage is real. Read more

Insights are only as good as your audience understands it.

Learn real industry applied techniques for creating dashboards and reports people can actually use in this guide, Data Visualization: An Audience-First Approach.

PlotStack readers get 50% OFF with: DATAVIZ50

Want to place an ad in an upcoming issue? Click Here.

unDraw #productivity #visualization
unDraw gives you hundreds of open-source, customizable SVG illustrations absolutely free. Perfect for making data reports, blog posts or dashboards look sharp and on-brand with minimal design effort.

iShortn #productivity
A neat tool I found sort of by accident. This app will allow you to create custom short links (think Bitly but back in the day before they started charging for everything). The developer, Kamoaba, is very engaged with the app and has made a very generous free version.

▶️ Storytelling in PowerPoint: Learn McKinsey’s 3-Step Framework by Dan Galletta (10 mins)
One of the best videos I’ve seen when it comes to sharing information through slides. If your medium of presenting data insights is through a PowerPoint deck, this is a must watch.

💲 Discount Available 🆓 Free Product Available

Did you know? Most PowerPoint users only use about 10% of its features.