Skill Demand Index
Based on 16 scored job postings out of 2,381 total. Depth levels reflect actual proficiency tiers, not just keyword presence.
0.7%
Demand Rate
L2
Median Depth
37.5%
Gap Rate
16
Jobs Analyzed
Minimal
Most employers want Data Science at introductory awareness.
Overview
Market context for Data Science in the current job market
Data Science is required in 0.7% of scored job postings on ShouldApply, making it a growing skill in the current job market. Employers looking for Data Science typically want candidates who can demonstrate real proficiency, not just surface awareness.
What the data shows for Data Science:
What L2 means in practice:
L2 (Basic) means you’ve built small things with Data Science — personal projects or bootcamp work. Employers accept this for junior roles.
This means employers aren't looking for someone who has used Data Science once or twice. They want evidence of professional application — shipped work, measurable outcomes, and the ability to operate independently.
Common skill gaps:
The gap rate of 37.5% means a notable portion of candidates fall short on Data Science. Addressing this gap directly in your application materials gives you an edge.
Which roles need Data Science most:
Data Science / ML positions drive 56% of demand. Marketing and Data Analysis also frequently list Data Science as a requirement. Skills commonly paired with Data Science include SQL and Communication.
Depth Level Distribution
How candidates match Data Science requirements across 16 scored evaluations
Average depth: L1.9·Median depth: L2.0
Salary Correlation
How Data Science affects compensation based on postings with disclosed salary data
Without Data Science
$136K
Median $130K
441 jobs
Skill Demand Insight
“Data Science appears in 0.7% of all scored jobs.”
From 16 scored job postings
Skill Pairings
Other skills that frequently appear alongside Data Science
Role Breakdown
Job categories most likely to require Data Science
Gap Analysis
How often Data Science is identified as a skill gap (L0–L1) in scored applications
Moderate gap rate — many candidates lack this skill
When Data Science appears in a job's requirements, 37.5% of scored applicants received an L0 or L1 (missing or minimal).
Yes. Data Science appears in 0.7% of scored job postings on ShouldApply, making it a growing skill in the current market. Based on 16 analyzed jobs, demand is steady across multiple role types.
The median required depth is L2. Many positions accept basic to intermediate proficiency.
Salary data for Data Science is still accumulating.
The most common pairings are SQL, Communication, Analytics, Python, Bachelor's Degree. Strengthening these alongside Data Science improves your fit across more positions.
Top roles: Data Science / ML, Marketing, Data Analysis, Other. Data Science / ML positions have the highest demand at 56% of all Data Science jobs.
L1→L2: online courses and personal projects. L2→L3: daily professional use and shipped work. L3→L4: mentoring others and optimizing processes. L4→L5: architecture decisions, open source contributions, or published work.
See how you stack up against Data Science job requirements
ShouldApply scores your profile against each skill at the depth level jobs actually need.
Analyze my Data Science gaps →See how your depth compares to what employers actually require
All Skills · Roles · Companies · Browse Jobs