Peruse the CareerCast.com Jobs Rated Report for 2015, and you'll notice careers linked to statistical and consumer analysis rank among the best: data scientist, market research analyst, statistician.
Data analysis plays an integral role in helping businesses tailor products and marketing to consumers. Analytics can also help predict risk in the workplace. And, as the U.S. Department of Labor outlines, employers can turn to data analysis to combat issues of workforce inequality.
In a January 2016 column, the DOL details how the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission plans to implement statistics compiled from the Employer Information Report to better assess the gender and pay gap, and work towards solutions. From the DOL:
For decades, the EEOC has collected annual workforce demographic data by race, ethnicity, sex and job category from certain private employers, including federal contractors. Now, for the first time, it would also collect certain pay data to help the EEOC and the Department of Labor identify potential pay discrimination and support employers’ voluntary compliance with federal law.
The new pay data would provide the EEOC and the Department of Labor with insight into pay disparities within industries and occupations. The agencies would use the pay data to encourage compliance with equal pay laws, assess discrimination complaints, better focus agency resources where there may be disparities, and reduce burdens on other employers.
This new pay data will allow the EEOC to compile and publish aggregated figures that will help employers in conducting their own analysis of their pay practices to assist in their compliance efforts.
Indeed, the role of analytics in the American labor force will only grow. The application of skills covers such a broad spectrum of needs for most any organization.
The CareerCast.com jobs database has numerous openings for data analysis professionals. A career in data analysis might be for you if your passion is improving equality in the workplace.