Future of work

Many people are involved in making large-scale data, and only some of these tasks are getting attention from researchers or recognition by managers re-organizing the data-driven workplace. New occupations like ‘data analyst’ and ‘data scientist’ have emerged in recent years, but much of the work that makes data analysis, interpretation and responsible-use possible happens in administrative or clerical jobs. As a result this work is often not recognized as vital to producing good quality data. New kinds of data and new kinds of uses of data mean that people in traditional roles are working with data in new ways, requiring new skills and knowledge. But these tasks and competencies in existing occupations have been undervalued and slow to come to scholars’ attention.