{"id":26798,"date":"2021-08-03T11:08:40","date_gmt":"2021-08-03T08:08:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/saudishopper.com.sa\/en\/?p=26798"},"modified":"2026-03-27T22:57:05","modified_gmt":"2026-03-27T19:57:05","slug":"great-data-disconnect-gulf-workers-take-the-lead-as-the-most-data-skilled-but-least-utilised-by-employers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/saudishopper.com.sa\/en\/great-data-disconnect-gulf-workers-take-the-lead-as-the-most-data-skilled-but-least-utilised-by-employers\/","title":{"rendered":"Great Data Disconnect: Gulf workers take the lead as the most data-skilled but least utilised by employers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Despite data workers, specifically in the UAE and KSA, possessing advanced and valuable data skills, businesses are failing to take advantage of this untapped resource<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

KSA\u00a0\u2014\u00a03\u00a0<\/sup>August<\/strong> 2021 \u2014\u00a0Alteryx, Inc.\u00a0(NYSE: AYX), the analytics automation company, today highlights a critical imbalance between the advanced skill levels that data workers possess and the utilization of these talents within organizations. While Gulf businesses hire workers with the skills, desire, knowledge, and analytical expertise for success, the research highlights that these same businesses are not drawing on this deep well of talent.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a YouGov survey commissioned by Alteryx of UAE and KSA data workers in large companies, Alteryx found\u00a0that almost two-thirds<\/strong> of data workers possess the advanced analytic skills needed to deliver business insights using descriptive (57%), prescriptive (61%), and predictive (60%) analytics. Yet despite this enviable skillset,\u00a0just 28% of workers use these talents to unlock business benefits such as greater efficiency, or revenue growth through creating data models<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While data-driven insights have eluded many companies due to a lack of skilled data workers, businesses across the Gulf are falling behind due to underutilizing the talent of those in the workforce.\u00a0Despite the clear link between data-driven insights and business efficiency, we see a newly emerging phenomenon – a lack of talent\u00a0utilization\u00a0stalling business transformation efforts.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cEmployees with strong data skills are a core requirement for developing business resiliency and the ability to pivot at speed, but to maximize the potential of these workers \u2013 democratizing<\/em> their access to data and facilitating their ability to deliver insights – is the missing link,\u201d\u00a0comments Alan Jacobson, Chief Data and Analytics Officer at Alteryx<\/strong>. \u201cDigital transformation has moved beyond boardroom discussions. It\u2019s now mission-critical for businesses to fully leverage analytics and data science to decipher the massive influx of data developing across lines of business.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDespite the inherent value of data-led decision making, there is a critical disconnect between the expertise we see in the Gulf and the value these employees are able to bring to both driving new strategies and further optimizing the business to run smarter.\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Making full use of the analytic expertise available is a core requirement for the Gulf to continue competing on a global stage. Despite the majority of data workers (72%) being able to generate additional revenue through data, these experts are often limited to creating static reports (61%). Just 35% use their skills to create exploratory analyses, and only 37% use data to identify future outcomes based on historical data through predictive analytics. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The business case for analytics excellence <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

89% of data workers in the Gulf currently rank their skills as \u2018above average and report they are given the time (61%) training (60%), and tools (59%) to succeed. Why then, in an environment where workers are ready and able to help businesses drive value from data and analytics are so few empowered to take full advantage of these skills?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While not every data worker needs to become a fully-fledged data scientist, by ensuring that these specialists are empowered to deliver insights across business functions, organizations can turbocharge their transformation efforts with pre-existing resources and thrive in an increasingly data-rich environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Strategies to create the data-centric business of the future:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n