Data Career Podcast: Helping You Land a Data Analyst Job FAST 192: Will Data Analysts Survive 2026? 3 Major Predictions
Jan 6, 2026
Explore predictions about the future of data analytics by 2026. Fewer applicants are expected, making entry-level roles easier to secure. Discover how AI will enhance, not replace, analysts, and why domain expertise will be crucial. Enterprises are predicted to adopt AI slowly due to security and rollout concerns. The conversation emphasizes that analytics remains a solid career choice, encouraging those with domain experience to pivot towards this promising field.
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Less Competition In 2026 Job Market
- Avery Smith predicts 2026 will be easier to land a data job because hype around data cooled and competition will drop.
- He expects similar job openings as 2025 but fewer applicants as many chase AI roles.
Enterprise AI Will Roll Out Slowly
- Companies will adopt AI for analytics gradually, especially large enterprises that move slowly.
- Adoption will often come via integrations with existing vendors like Microsoft and Google rather than wholesale rewrites.
Use AI To Augment — Keep Thinking
- Use AI as a tool to augment your analysis, not to replace your judgment.
- Keep thinking critically and plan your analysis because AI often suggests many unusable ideas.