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The State of Data & AI Literacy 2025 report highlights the growing importance of data and AI literacy skills among leaders, with 86% emphasizing data literacy and 69% recognizing AI literacy as essential. Despite the increasing demand for these skills, a significant skills gap persists, with 50% of leaders reporting a data literacy gap and 60% an AI literacy gap. The report underscores the need for organizations to invest in both data and AI literacy to enhance decision-making, innovation, and overall business performance.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
351 views68 pages

Datacamp DLR Report 2025 Small

The State of Data & AI Literacy 2025 report highlights the growing importance of data and AI literacy skills among leaders, with 86% emphasizing data literacy and 69% recognizing AI literacy as essential. Despite the increasing demand for these skills, a significant skills gap persists, with 50% of leaders reporting a data literacy gap and 60% an AI literacy gap. The report underscores the need for organizations to invest in both data and AI literacy to enhance decision-making, innovation, and overall business performance.

Uploaded by

zhawarma01
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 68

REPORT

T H E S T A T E O F

Data + AI
L I T E R A C Y

2 0 2 5
The State of Data & AI Literacy 2025

Contents Introduction

Data & AI Literacy in 2025 — A Generational Transformation


2

The Data & AI Skills Gap Revisited


3

Data and AI Skills: The Engines of Better Performance


7

The Data & AI Skills Ecosystem

16

The State of AI Adoption in the Enterprise


21

The Who, What, and How of AI Adoption


22

The Gains and Challenges of Early Adopters

27

The Data and AI Skills Agenda


31

The State of Data & AI Upskilling


32

The Challenges Leaders Are Facing in Filling the Data and AI Skills Gap
36

The ROI of Data and AI Upskilling

40

5 Lessons to Effectively Upskill & Reskill Your Teams in the Age of AI


46

1: Align Learning ROI with Business Objectives


47

2: Focus on Change Management


50

3: Make Learning Interactive and Useful


53

4: Make Sure Data & AI Literacy Go Hand-in-Hand


56

5: Personalize Learning at Scale

58

The 2025 Data and AI Competency Framework

61

What the Future Holds for Data and AI Literacy


62

Conclusion and Methodology


63

Panel of Experts
64

The State of Data & AI Literacy 2025

Introduction

We stand at the cusp of a new industrial revolution—driven In this era of change, one factor remains constant: skills.

by the power of data and AI.

Now in its third edition, The State of Data & AI Literacy Report continues to track the skills

agenda amidst an ever-shifting landscape, shedding light on how organizations are adapting
Just as electrification reshaped industries long after the
to the AI era. 

discovery of electricity, the full potential of AI will take time

to unfold. We are in a multi-year transformation in which


This year, we asked 500+ leaders in the US and the UK and explored key questions shaping
awe-inspiring research will continue to outpace real-world
the future of data and AI literacy
adoption. 

How has the data and AI skills agenda evolved over the past 12 months

How are organizations adopting AI

How are organizations adapting to the data & AI skills gap

What best practices can help organizations future-proof their workforce?

To add to their perspectives, we have collected insights from industry thought leaders and

DataCamp for Business customers on many of the themes and trends covered in this report

and those for the decades to come.

Join us as we navigate the road ahead.

1
The State of Data & AI Literacy 2025

SECTION 1

Data and AI
Literacy in 2025
A Generational Transformation

In this first section, we revisit the data and AI


literacy skill gap, uncover how AI literacy is
outgrowing data literacy, and unpack the most
important data and AI skills leaders need from
their teams.
The State of Data & AI Literacy 2025

The Data and AI


Skills Gap Revisited
Over the past three years of running this report, we have
established just how important data and AI literacy skills have
become for leaders. This year’s insights do not buck the trend.

Today, more than 86% of leaders across the US and UK


identify data literacy as an important skill for their team, and
86%
of leaders believe data literacy is
important for their teams’ daily
tasks, Stable since last year.
69% identify AI literacy as an important skill for their team.

While we see AI literacy increasing in importance and data

69%
literacy remaining stable year over year, the fact is: the
majority of leaders believe that data and AI literacy remain
essential for the future. 

of leaders believe AI literacy is


important for their teams’ daily
tasks, up 7% from last year.

3
The State of Data & AI Literacy 2025

Is AI literacy outpacing
data literacy?
We also surveyed leaders about the growing importance of While this is not surprising given the democratization of AI “Having some sort of data
data and AI skills over the last five years.

over the past 12 months, treating AI literacy in isolation


literacy—understanding what
from data literacy would be short-sighted.

The same question was posed to leaders in 2023 and 2024, you can do with data and what
and the results show an interesting trend: the demand for As we explore in the final section of this report, AI literacy data insights mean,
AI literacy skills is outgrowing that of data literacy. We and data literacy go hand-in-hand. Effective AI adoption
understanding what correlation
learned that two of the five fastest-growing skills leaders requires a strong foundation in data skills, from
needed from their teams over the past five years are data understanding data governance to framing analytical is, what regression is—is going
and AI skills—47% of leaders equally point to AI literacy questions. Organizations that invest in both areas will be to be a skill that's
and business intelligence as the fastest-growing skills best positioned to navigate the complexities of the AI era. 

fundamentally useful even
they need from their teams.

more in the future than today.”


Furthermore, while AI literacy scored 7% higher on this
question compared to last year, data literacy and data
science skills decreased by 2% in the same time frame.

Michael Berthold

CEO at KNIME

Interestingly, this is even more pronounced among the C-


suite, who see AI as the fastest-growing skill they need
from their organizations—with 55% of executives pointing
Listen to Podcast
to AI literacy as the fastest-growing skill-set over the past
five years versus 41% for data literacy.

4
The State of Data & AI Literacy 2025

Four of the top seven fastest-growing skills BI and AI skills have grown more in 

were data AND AI skills importance for leaders in the past 12 months

“In the past five years, which skills have grown most 
 “In the past five years, which skills have grown most important 

important for your team (or department)? Rank by order of importance.” for your team (or department)? Rank by order of importance.”

5
The State of Data & AI Literacy 2025

The data and AI skills gap:


Slow gains

60%
Despite growing awareness of the importance of data and
AI skills, progress in closing the data and AI skills gap
remains slow.

50% of leaders in the US and UK report a data


literacy skills gap, marking a 7% improvement from 

of leaders believe their
last year organization has an AI literacy
skill gap, Down 2% from 2024.
60% of leaders say there is an AI literacy gap, a
modest 2% decrease from the previous year.

While these figures indicate some progress, the overall


picture remains roughly the same. Year over year, the data
shows that half of leaders still struggle with a data literacy
gap, while three out of five report an AI literacy gap. The
question begs here: given how important data and AI are
50% of leaders believe their
organization has a data literacy
skill gap, Down 7% from 2024.
for leaders, why do we not see improvement in the skills
gap? Let’s explore this in more detail.

6
The State of Data & AI Literacy 2025

Data and AI Skills:


The Engines of
Better Performance

80%
We've already seen how the demand for data and AI skills
continues to rise and how the skills gap persists.
Unsurprisingly, when leaders are asked why these skills
matter, we hear the same response: data and AI literacy
are engines of better business performance. 

Specifically, data literacy powers better decision-making, of leaders agree that AI will make
while AI literacy fuels innovation. Moreover, as you’ll see it easier for their teams to work
throughout this report—there is a strong interplay between with and draw insights from data.
data and AI literacy, as 80% of leaders agree that AI will
make it easier for their teams to work with and draw
insights from data. As a result, instead of being just an
innovation engine, AI literacy is also a force multiplier for
better decision-making. 

7
The State of Data & AI Literacy 2025

Data literacy: The engine


for better decision-making
We also surveyed leaders about the growing importance The consequences aren’t just operational; they affect
of data and AI skills over the last five years.

workplace morale, too. 15% of leaders cite burnout and


employee attrition as direct outcomes of poor data
Once again, US and UK leaders point to poorer literacy, underscoring that data skills are not just a
productivity and decision-making as the main risks of not business necessity but a key factor in employee
developing data literacy skills. When asked, 40% cited satisfaction and retention.


decreased productivity, while 39% highlighted


inaccurate decision-making as the principal risks of not The impact extends to both customer experience and the
developing adequate data literacy skills. Beyond individual ability to meet goals—23% of leaders believe a lack of
decision-making, 31% of leaders report that a lack of data literacy negatively affects customer service. In
data literacy stifles innovation, and 26% say it makes it comparison, 21% say it leads to missed team or
harder to keep pace with competitors. departmental targets.

8
The State of Data & AI Literacy 2025

Data literacy skills are seen as engines of AI literacy skills are seen as engines

improved decision-making of improved innovation

“What risks is your department or team facing if your


“What risks is your department or team facing if 

people do not have adequate data skills?”

your people do not have adequate AI skills?”

9
The State of Data & AI Literacy 2025

AI literacy: The engine for


better innovation
While data literacy underpins improved decision-making,
leaders point to AI literacy as a key driver of innovation. 

When asked about the risks of not developing AI literacy
skills, 37% of leaders say it slows innovation, while 34%
report decreased productivity due to ineffective AI
adoption.

The competitive risks are equally pressing—32% of leaders


believe their teams struggle to keep up with competitors
without AI skills, and the same percentage say it leads to
slower decision-making. 20% highlight poor customer
experience, while 17% cite missed internal targets,
reinforcing AI literacy as a critical factor in business
performance.

Like data literacy, AI skills gaps also impact workplace


morale. 16% of leaders cite poor employee experience, and
15% highlight burnout and attrition. As AI adoption
accelerates, closing the AI skills gap is no longer optional; it’s
necessary for long-term success.

10
The State of Data & AI Literacy 2025

The early adopter advantage

78%
We can also glean the value leaders see in building data and AI literacy
skills by looking at early adopters. With any new technology, there are
always individuals within organizations who push adoption forward,
setting the standard for others to follow. When asked about the
performance of these individuals, leaders overwhelmingly agree that
those with stronger data and AI skills consistently outperform their peers.

of leaders report that employees



with strong data literacy skills
According to this year’s survey, 78% of leaders report that employees consistently outperform their less
with strong data literacy skills consistently outperform their less data- data-literate counterparts.
literate counterparts. Similarly, 65% of leaders say AI-literate
employees drive better results than those without AI skills, further
showcasing the growing importance of these competencies in today’s

65%
workforce.

When looking at how employees with data and AI literacy skills


outperform those without them, we see measurable improvements
across key dimensions. Employees with stronger data literacy skills make
faster, more accurate decisions and drive better business outcomes. of leaders report that AI-literate
employees drive better results than
Meanwhile, employees with AI literacy skills excel at innovation and those without AI skills.
creating novel customer experiences. Beyond technical skills, leaders also
perceive data- and AI-literate employees as more engaged, resilient, and
likely to stay with their organizations longer.

11
The State of Data & AI Literacy 2025

Early adopters of data and AI literacy are already outperforming those without data and AI skills

“What value do data-literate employees provide over those 
 “What value do AI-literate employees provide over those 

with insufficient data skills? (Rank them by importance)”

with insufficient AI skills? (Rank them by importance)”

12
The State of Data & AI Literacy 2025

This trend is also apparent in hiring dynamics. Leaders are The numbers for employees with AI literacy skills are
increasingly willing to pay a premium for talent with strong equally striking. 19% of leaders would offer a 10-15%
data and AI skills premium, while 18% would pay 15-20% extra, and 16% are
willing to go as high as 30-40%. Most notably, 12% of
79% of leaders now say they would offer higher leaders say they would increase salaries by 40-50% for
salaries for candidates with strong data literacy skills, candidates with AI skills.

up from 66% in 2023 and 72% in 2024


These figures make one clear: those who invest in data and
Similarly, 71% of leaders are prepared to pay more for AI literacy outperform their peers and command higher
AI-skilled employees, a significant jump from 60% in salaries in a market that increasingly values these skills.

2024.

Beyond the willingness to pay, the salary premiums are


also significant. For data literacy, 21% of leaders would
offer an extra 10-15%, while 20% are prepared to pay
15-20% more.

Additionally, 14% would pay 20-30% extra, and 15% are


willing to offer 30-40% higher salaries for employees with
better data literacy skills.

13
The State of Data & AI Literacy 2025

Leaders are willing to pay a premium for data literacy skills

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement:


If you answered yes to the previous question, what salary premium will you pay
“When hiring someone new, I’m willing to pay a higher salary to a candidate to a candidate with high data literacy skills?

who has good data literacy skills over a candidate who does not.”

14
The State of Data & AI Literacy 2025

Leaders are willing to pay a premium for AI literacy skills

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement:


If you answered yes to the previous question, what salary premium are you
“When hiring someone new, I’m willing to pay a higher salary to a candidate willing to pay to a candidate with high AI literacy skills? 

with good AI literacy skills than a candidate without?”

15
The State of Data & AI Literacy 2025

The Data and AI


Skills Ecosystem
As leaders continue to value data and AI competencies,
the specific data and AI skills they prioritize remain
consistent with trends from the past two years.

Once again, leaders emphasize that the most valuable


skills today are at the foundation of the data and AI
literacy spectrum—practical, non-technical competencies
that enable employees to work effectively with data and AI
in daily workflows.

16
The State of Data & AI Literacy 2025

“Nearly every business function


The most important data is working with data—clear,
skills leaders need from their evidence-based communication
teams today isn’t just for data teams—it’s a
vital skill for everyone.”
When asked about their teams’ most critical data skills, leaders
prioritize data-driven decision-making, analysis, and storytelling Paulina Davila

over highly technical skills like programming or machine learning.

VP, Analytics Insights & Storytelling,


JPMorganChase
At the top of the list, 84% of leaders identify data-driven
decision-making as the most important skill, followed by data Watch Here
analysis and manipulation (81%) and interpreting data
visualizations and dashboards (80%). Business intelligence tools
also remain a key focus, with 77% of leaders emphasizing their
importance, alongside the ability to create visualizations and
dashboards (76%). Given the importance of communicating with
data, it’s no surprise that 69% of leaders highlight data
storytelling as essential.

While more technical skills like databases (68%), data


engineering (65%), machine learning (61%), and programming
(58%) hold value, they tend to rank lower in importance than skills
that are applicable to everyone. As in previous years, equipping all
teams with descriptive analytics skills is central to allowing
effective data utilization throughout an organization.
17
The State of Data & AI Literacy 2025

The most important AI skills


leaders need from their
teams today
When asked about the most critical AI skills they need for their
teams, leaders continue to prioritize foundational AI knowledge,
responsible AI practices, and practical business applications over
deep technical expertise. 



77% of leaders identify a basic understanding of AI concepts as


the most essential skill. Close behind, 74% emphasize AI ethics "What does every organization want?
and responsible AI best practices, which we'll explore in depth
later.Similarly, 72% of leaders stress the importance of
They want all of their employees to
understanding AI applications in business, reinforcing the need use AI safely, with awareness of the
for employees to identify relevant AI use cases and recognize risks and how to mitigate them. 

where AI adds value—and where it does not.

If you want AI scaled up and used


As AI-powered tools like ChatGPT become embedded in appropriately, your organization needs
workflows, 68% of leaders cite prompt engineering and the to train and upskill its employees on
ability to guide AI-generated outputs as a valuable skill. Responsible AI."

Meanwhile, developing AI systems from scratch ranks


significantly lower (56%), underscoring the reality that most
Uthman Ali,

organizations are more focused on leveraging AI effectively rather


Global Head of
than building it themselves. Listen to Podcast
Responsible AI at BP

18
The State of Data & AI Literacy 2025

skills at the foundation of the data and AI literacy spectrum are seen as most important by leaders

"How important, if at all, are the following data skills for the day-to-day tasks of employees in your organization?”

19
The State of Data & AI Literacy 2025

Data and AI skills at the foundation of the data and AI literacy spectrum are seen as most important by leaders

"How important, if at all, are the following data skills for the day-to-day tasks of employees in your organization?”

20
The State of Data & AI Literacy 2025

SECTION 2

The State of AI Adoption


in the Enterprise
FROM EXPERIMENTATION TO 

WIDESPREAD ADOPTION

In this section, we examine the current state of


AI adoption in the enterprise, who are the
biggest users of generative AI, the gains and
challenges coming out of early adopters, and a
lot more.
The State of Data & AI Literacy 2025

The Who, What, and


How of AI Adoption
As AI continues to reshape the enterprise, we set out to
understand the current state of AI adoption—who is using AI,
how frequently, and for what purposes. Three key insights
emerged.

First, AI adoption is already widespread, with the majority of


organizations actively using it. Second, technical teams,
especially IT, data, and R&D, are leading the way in AI
adoption. Finally, coding and data analysis are, so far, the
killer apps of AI, reinforcing our assertion that AI will lower
the barrier to working with data. 

22
The State of Data & AI Literacy 2025

AI adoption is growing rapidly AI adoption is already at healthy levels

We first wanted to understand how many teams within “Does your team or any other team within your 

organization use one or more AI tools in their work?”
organizations are actively using AI, and our research
revealed a striking statistic: only 9% of leaders report that no
one in their organization uses AI. This means that for most
organizations, AI has already become part of workflows in
some capacity. Expanding on adoption patterns, 64% of
leaders say their teams actively use AI, while an additional
49% report that other teams in their organization also
leverage AI. 

Beyond mere adoption, AI is being used frequently. 82% of


leaders state that AI is used at least once a week, with 39%
saying it is used daily, 27% reporting use two to three times
“How often does your team/teams within your 

per week, and 16% stating it is used once a week. These organization use AI tools for their tasks?”
numbers clearly show one thing: AI is here to stay. 

23
The State of Data & AI Literacy 2025

When looking at specific tools, we can see AI adoption is primarily driven by widely Beyond consumer-facing applications, 33% of organizations have integrated Microsoft
available generative AI systems, with 77% of leaders reporting that their teams use or GitHub Copilot. Additionally, 21% of organizations have built custom AI tools, a trend
ChatGPT, making it the most commonly adopted AI tool in the enterprise. 58% use Google particularly common in large enterprises that prioritize security, privacy, and compliance.

Gemini, 14% use Midjourney, and 13% use Anthropic’s Claude, reflecting growing
adoption across both productivity and creative AI applications.

CHATGPT, GEMINI, AND COPILOTS LEAD THE ADOPTION WAVE


“Which AI tools are currently being used by your team/ teams in your organization?”

24
The State of Data & AI Literacy 2025

Technical teams are As AI adoption expands across enterprises, we also wanted to understand who uses AI the most within organizations.
The results were both predictable and counterintuitive. Unsurprisingly, technical teams are the biggest adopters of AI,
leading AI adoption, but particularly those focused on coding, data, and research. 60% of IT teams, 54% of data & analytics teams, and 43%
of R&D teams actively use AI for coding, research, and experimentation. This finding should not be surprising, as
functional teams lag coding has become one of the killer apps of LLMs. As Eran Yahav, CTO at Tabnine, said on DataFramed:

“AI will accelerate all activities across the


software development lifecycle. Code
generation, documentation generation, test
generation, code review and deployment to
production. At all stages of the software
development lifecycle, you already see
assistance providing significant value and
significant acceleration."
Eran Yahav

CTO at Tabnine
Listen Here

25
The State of Data & AI Literacy 2025

However, what stands out is the relatively low adoption in business functions that could Even sales teams (25%), which could leverage AI for personalized messaging, better
greatly benefit from AI-assisted workflows. Marketing (34%), operations (34%), customer prospect research, and more, are among the slowest adopters. This gap suggests that
support (33%), and finance (31%), all functions where AI could enhance productivity, while technical teams are leading the charge, many functional areas have yet to fully
decision-making, and customer interactions, show lower-than-expected adoption. embrace AI’s potential, presenting a significant opportunity for broader enterprise AI
integration.

Technical teams lead adoption—but a big opportunity for functional teams remains

Question answered: “Which departments are currently using AI in your organization?”

26
The State of Data & AI Literacy 2025

The Gains and Challenges of Early Adopters


When looking at the impact of AI on teams that
have already adopted it, leaders are seeing
measurable gains in productivity. When asked
about the effects of generative AI tools on their “AI adoption has to be seen as a
teams, 84% of leaders agree that these tools have tide that lifts all the boat
improved team productivity. More significantly, together. So if you really want to
only 3% believe AI has had no impact on
productivity, reinforcing that AI is already making a scale adoption, you have to have
tangible difference in workplace efficiency.

the leadership setting the


agenda and making sure that
While full-scale AI adoption still has a long way to they are engaged. It's really a
go, especially among functional teams, these early question of making sure that you
gains are welcome news. The clear productivity
boost is creating momentum and excitement
are watering all the plants at the
around AI adoption, encouraging more teams to same time.”
explore how they can leverage AI effectively in their Tathagat Varma

workflows. 
 Global TechOps Leader

at Walmart Global Tech

Listen to Podcast

27
The State of Data & AI Literacy 2025

With the benefits of AI adoption clear, we also asked “It's crucial for everyone to grasp
leaders to report on any downsides they’ve encountered issues like bias and fairness. And
when implementing the tools. While 36% of leaders say AI
has had no negative impact on their teams, concerns now with the rise of generative AI,
remain.

our attention has shifted toward


challenges like hallucinations,
For example, 30% report an increase in falsehoods and
hallucinations in AI-generated outputs, highlighting the misinformation, toxicity, and
risks of relying on AI content without human oversight. intellectual property concerns.
Similarly, 30% cite increased bias in work, while 25% Unless a business truly
highlight a rise in low-quality outputs, reinforcing the need
for stronger AI literacy and responsible AI practices.
understands these complexities, it’s
hard to navigate the risks in this
space effectively.”

Ranil Boteju

Chief Data and Analytics Officer


at Lloyds Banking Group

Watch Here

28
The State of Data & AI Literacy 2025

AI is driving productivity gains, but the risks cannot be ignored

“To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following 
 “What negative effects have you noticed from your team/ teams in your
statement: “AI tools like ChatGPT have increased productivity in my team?” organization using AI tools daily? (Select all that apply)”

29
The State of Data & AI Literacy 2025

The challenges in
scaling AI adoption The majority of challenges teams encounter

with using AI effectively are all people-based


We also wanted to understand the challenges associated with AI
adoption, and leaders identified several key barriers to scaling the use of
AI throughout their organization. 37% point to a lack of clear use cases,
making it difficult for teams to determine where AI can be effectively
deployed.

32% cite a lack of formal training, underscoring the need for structured
AI upskilling programs to ensure employees use AI effectively and
responsibly. Adjacent to training, 26% find AI tools too complex, making
them less accessible for non-technical employees. Adoption challenges
are also cultural. 32% of leaders report resistance to AI adoption within
their teams, highlighting the importance of change management and
cultural shifts in successful AI adoption. 

Looking at these findings from a high level, the challenges organizations


face are fundamentally people issues. From lack of clear use cases to
resistance and insufficient training, the biggest barriers to AI adoption
stem from how teams understand, interact with, and implement AI.

“What challenges do employees in your organization face when using AI tools effectively?”

In the next section, we’ll explore how organizations are approaching the
data and AI skills agenda and how upskilling and reskilling initiatives
have changed since our last report. 

30
The State of Data & AI Literacy 2025

SECTION 3

The Data and


AI Skills Agenda
STEADY GAINS

In the last section, we saw that a third of leaders


cite lack of formal training as the biggest challenge
teams face when using generative AI effectively. 



Now, let’s examine how organizations are


addressing this problem and how data and AI
upskilling efforts have evolved over the past year.
The State of Data & AI Literacy 2025

The State of Data and AI Upskilling “O ur roles as leaders is to think


about how can we empower
Leaders report significant changes in how their Meanwhile, 23% of organizations limit AI training to people across an organization
organizations address the data and AI skills gap compared technical roles (down from 26%), and 16% extend AI to effectively use the data
to last year. The good news is that organizations are training to non-technical roles (down slightly from 18%).
making significant improvements in workforce training. 

 Most notably, the number of organizations that do not product or service we're
upskill employees on AI has dropped from 26% to 15%, building. When we approach
When asked about the state of data literacy training, 46% highlighting a clear shift toward recognizing AI literacy this through a data maturity
of leaders now report having a mature, organization-wide as a critical workforce skill.

data literacy program, a significant increase from 35% lens, it's important to also
last year. Meanwhile, 29% of leaders say that only This increase in upskilling efforts is further supported by consider the different user

technical roles receive data training, marking a 5% an improved perception of access to learning resources. personas within each domain.
decrease, while 20% report that only non-technical roles 74% of leaders now say their teams have access to
also receive training, reflecting a 6% improvement. training resources for data skills (up 9% since last year), The skills and capabilities you
Encouragingly, the percentage of organizations that do and 69% report that their teams have resources for AI need to develop for
not provide any data training has dropped to 7%, down skills (up 13%). This reflects a growing recognition among technologists will differ from
from 12% last year.

leaders that organizations are beginning to invest in their


workforce’s skills. 
 those required on the business
AI training has seen even greater growth. 43% of leaders side.”
now report having a mature AI literacy program for all
employees, a substantial jump from 25% last year. Robin Sutara

Field Chief Data Strategy



Officer at Databricks

Watch Here

32
The State of Data & AI Literacy 2025

The data and AI upskilling agenda is gaining momentum

“What would best describe the state of data training at your organization?”
“What would best describe the state of AI training at your organization?”

33
The State of Data & AI Literacy 2025

Blended learning is the When it comes to how organizations are approaching data and AI training, blended learning (a mix of online-based
training and instructor-led sessions) remains the most popular method. 42% of leaders report using blended

most widely used form learning as their main upskilling methodology. We see this first-hand with DataCamp for Business customers—who

of upskilling
combine the use of DataCamp courses and live sessions to effectively drive learning outcomes.

Bloomberg combines online learning with instructor-led Volkswagen kickstarts a learning culture with a deeply
sessions to drive learning outcomes immersive week of training
Key features of the program Key features of the program

DataCamp courses as pre-requisites for live session One-week immersive session designed and curated by the DataCamp tea
Online sessions delivered by Bloomberg in-house expert Sessions delivered to different teams by DataCamp instructor
Capstone projects built with Bloomberg data

Meant to kickstart a wide-ranging skills transformation project

“With our blended learning program, learners were able to go from “Together with DataCamp, we created custom projects using company-
never writing a line of code in their entire life to completing a data- specific data, allowing participants to apply their new skills in a practical,
driven news analysis.” business-relevant way.”

Sheil Naik
Hannah Cuypers

Senior Technical Trainer and Project Leader Digitalisation & IT at


Technical Program Manager for Porsche AG
Learn More Learn More
Global Data, Bloomberg

34
The State of Data & AI Literacy 2025

Other approaches include internally created online-based training (18%), instructor-led sessions (13%), and third-party online-based
training providers (11%). While external training providers remain a smaller piece of the puzzle, the fact that only 12% of organizations
report not providing any data and AI training is a positive sign that upskilling is becoming a higher priority.

Blended learning and online learning are the most popular ways of addressing the data & AI skills gap

"How do you upskill your workforce on data & AI skills?”

35
The State of Data & AI Literacy 2025

The Challenges Leaders Are Facing in


Filling the Data and AI Skills Gap
Despite progress in upskilling, many organizations still face Beyond budget and resources, leaders also face structural
significant challenges in closing the data and AI skills gap. challenges in implementing training programs. 25% say
From budget constraints to employee resistance and lack they struggle to understand where to start, and 24% cite
of executive support, these barriers continue to slow down a lack of executive support, making it difficult to drive
large-scale training initiatives.

company-wide adoption. Additionally, 23% point to a lack


of ownership over training programs, further reinforcing
When asked about the biggest obstacles to data and AI the need for a playbook on how to approach building data
training, 33% of leaders cite a lack of budget as the and AI literacy.

primary challenge, making it the most frequently reported


barrier. Employee engagement also remains a concern. Interestingly, 20% of leaders say they face none of these
27% of leaders report resistance to training, while 27% challenges, indicating that some organizations have
also highlight inadequate training resources, suggesting already built mature, structured training programs.
that organizations are still struggling to provide effective, However, for the majority, overcoming these barriers is
accessible, and engaging learning experiences. essential for closing the skills gap and ensuring long-term
AI and data literacy.

36
The State of Data & AI Literacy 2025

LACK OF BUDGET, EMPLOYEE RESISTANCE, AND INADEQUATE TRAINING RESOURCES TOP THE LIST OF CHALLENGES

"What challenges have you faced or are you currently facing when improving your workforce's data and AI skills? Please select all that apply.”

37
The State of Data & AI Literacy 2025

Online learning resources do not provide the


needed level of personalization and interactivity

Despite data and AI being primarily active skills, many education providers have yet to adapt training
methods to reflect this reality. Leaders report three key barriers that limit the effectiveness of third-party
training providers: lack of applicability, lack of personalization, and difficulty measuring impact

Lack of applicability: Many people struggle to apply AI and data training in real-world scenarios. 31%
of leaders say video-based courses alone are insufficient, and 27% report that employees don’t
know where to start, highlighting the need for structured, hands-on learning paths

Lack of personalization: Training programs often fail to align with job-specific needs. 23% of leaders
say the skills taught are not relevant to individuals’ roles, while 18% cite a lack of certifications,
indicating demand for credentials that validate expertise and encourage participation

Difficulty measuring impact: Many organizations struggle to assess the effectiveness of training
programs. 30% of leaders say they cannot measure ROI, making it hard to justify ongoing investment.

38
The State of Data & AI Literacy 2025

Online learning resources do not provide the needed level of personalization and interactivity

"If you use a third-party online training provider, what challenges have you faced? Please select all that apply.”

Daily XP 500

You've been hired by a media company reporting on a new AI model called vidAIo.
Use ChatGPT to write a template post providing this prompt:



Scale deeply personalized interactive


[Create a social media post about the release of vidAIo.]

Which limitation means this prompt is unlikely to produce an accurate response?

Answer the question 100 XP

learning experiences with DataCamp ChatGPT was potentially trained with biased data

ChatGPT can struggle to track conversation context if the focus shifts


press 1

press 2

press 3
ChatGPT has a knowledge cutoff
Whether data and AI literacy for beginners, prompt engineering with ChatGPT, or machine learning for
Get Started
developers, your teams will put their skills into action with hands-on interactive exercises right in the browser. Take Hint (-30XP) Submit Answer

39
The State of Data & AI Literacy 2025

The ROI of Data


and AI Upskilling
Despite some organizations struggling to measure ROI, 86% say training has improved decision-making, with 75% highlight better employee retention, with 36%
leaders overwhelmingly report improved business 40% seeing significant improvements and 28% seeing significant improvements and 22% reporting a
performance from data and AI upskilling efforts. When experiencing a complete transformation complete transformation
asked to rank how their organization has benefited from
data and AI training, leaders point to tangible benefits 83% report faster decision-making, with 38% seeing 75% say training has increased revenue, with 32%
across decision-making, innovation, customer experience, significant improvements and 29% reporting a seeing significant improvements and 25% reporting a
and financial performance. Let’s break it down: complete transformation complete transformation

85% cite better innovation, with 41% seeing significant 75% report decreased costs, with 31% seeing
improvements and 26% reporting a complete significant improvements and 20% reporting a
transformation complete transformation.

76% say training has improved customer experience


(CX), with 32% seeing significant improvements and
24% reporting a complete transformation.

40
The State of Data & AI Literacy 2025

Leaders are already seeing the ROI of data and AI upskilling

"How has your organization benefited from data & AI training?”

41
The State of Data & AI Literacy 2025

What’s interesting here is that these are aggregate numbers.


When we segment the results based on data and AI upskilling
program maturity. When looking at results from leaders who
have either a mature organization-wide data literacy program
or a mature organization-wide AI literacy program, we can see
significant increases in the benefits received from data and AI
training. 

The difference is striking. When we isolate responses from


leaders whose organizations have mature data and AI literacy
programs, the ROI from training is even more pronounced
across every metric.

“Our goal is to upskill everyone


For example, 83% of all leaders saw improvements in faster
within our organization, because
decision making—but that number jumps to 95% among we know how important a common
those with mature programs. Similarly, while 75% of the data and AI understanding is for
broader group reported increased revenue, that rises to 92%
for those with mature initiatives. This trend continues across
everyone.”

the board: better innovation (95% vs. 85%), improved CX


(93% vs. 76%), and even decreased costs (91% vs. 75%).

Markus Rolle

Chief Financial Officer at


The data clearly shows that as organizations invest in Telefónica Germany
maturing their data and AI literacy programs, the benefits
scale significantly. This is especially the case when looking at
Watch Here
leaders who report “complete transformations” across these
different dimensions.

42
The State of Data & AI Literacy 2025

Leaders with mature data and AI literacy training programs see even higher ROI

"How has your organization benefited from data and AI training? (Mature data and AI literacy programs only)”

43
The State of Data & AI Literacy 2025

Beyond business performance:

Data and AI literacy as social safeguards


While AI and data literacy are critical for business 79% agree that the responsible and ethical use of AI
performance, efficiency, and innovation, leaders also should be taught to every employee, showing a strong
recognize their broader societal impact. The findings consensus that AI education must go beyond technical
suggest that AI literacy is increasingly seen as a safeguard skills and include ethical considerations and responsible
against automation risks, misinformation, and ethical AI use
concerns
73% say AI literacy is fundamental for combating
63% of leaders agree that generative AI will lead to online misinformation, reinforcing the idea that data
job automation within their organization, reinforcing and AI skills are not just about productivity but also
the potential problems AI may introduce into the labor about ensuring informed, responsible digital citizens.

market. However, 59% believe that individuals with AI


literacy skills are less likely to be impacted by These findings underscore that AI and data literacy are not
automation, highlighting AI literacy as a protective just competitive advantages—they are essential tools for
measure against workforce displacement navigating the risks of automation, misinformation, and
ethical AI deployment. Organizations that invest in AI
75% of leaders believe that countries and literacy today are improving workforce resilience and
organizations are responsible for ensuring their contributing to a more informed and responsible society.
people have the necessary data and AI skills,
emphasizing the role of governments and businesses in
preparing society for the AI-driven future.

44
The State of Data & AI Literacy 2025

Data and AI literacy are essential tools for navigating the risks of automation,

misinformation, and ethical AI deployment

“To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statement”

45
The State of Data & AI Literacy 2025

SECTION 4

5 Lessons to
Effectively Upskill and
Reskill Your Teams in
the Age of AI While AI adoption is accelerating, success
hinges on how well the workforce is prepared to
use data and AI effectively. 



In this section, we share five best practices from


LEARNINGS FROM THE FRONTLINE DataCamp for Business customers on building
scalable, high-impact literacy programs that
drive real business value.

The State of Data & AI Literacy 2025

1—Align Learning
ROI with Business
Objectives
In the previous section, we saw that 30% of leaders
struggle to measure the ROI of their training programs.
One of the biggest pitfalls when launching an upskilling
initiative is failing to align learning objectives with business
objectives. When training is disconnected from real
business needs, it becomes difficult to track impact, gain
leadership support, and drive meaningful change.

To bridge this gap, organizations should move beyond skill-


based learning objectives and adopt an outcome-driven
approach. This means working closely with functional
leaders to ensure that upskilling efforts are aligned with
business priorities and measurable success metrics.

47
The State of Data & AI Literacy 2025

Skill-based vs. outcome-based learning objectives How Rolls Royce 100x’ed the
speed of their design engineering
Many upskilling programs focus on learning a By linking upskilling efforts to tangible business
specific tool or skill, such as “Learn ChatGPT” or outcomes, organizations can drive greater processes with DataCamp
“Master Power BI.” While valuable, these skill-based adoption, justify training investments, and ensure Key features of the program
objectives often lack direct business impact. Instead, learning translates into real-world impact. 

leaders should shift to outcome-based goals that Outcome-based goal of improving design engineering
directly tie learning to measurable efficiency, A great example comes from Rolls Royce, which processes with Python skill
accuracy, or innovation improvements. 

 worked with DataCamp for Business to upskill Worked with DataCamp for Business to build custom
engineers in Python to automate engineering learning pathways that support these skill
For example, suppose you want to upskill a finance design processes. By focusing on a business Engineers upskilled were able to 100x the speed of
team on Power BI. A skill-based goal might be to process instead of a skill, Rolls Royce was able to their design engineering processes

simply learn Power BI. An outcome-based goal, on curate the right learning resources, upskill their
the other hand, would be to reduce manual reporting engineers, and deliver a 100x improvement in the “At Rolls-Royce, we’re dealing with
time by transitioning from Excel to Power BI. This speed of design engineering processes. 
complex data sets related to airlines and
approach not only provides a clear business engines. Through DataCamp, our
rationale for adopting Power BI, making change
engineers gained valuable experience and
management easier but also creates a measurable
success metric: time saved on reporting. learned how to automate multiple data-
handling processes that previously had to
be completed manually.”

Akin Keskin

Chief of Design Systems,



Rolls-Royce Learn More

48
The State of Data & AI Literacy 2025

Build interlocks with the business


If you are a data or learning leader looking to build data and AI literacy
skills across the organization, the best way to define outcome-based
goals is by building interlocks with the business. Rather than offering
generic AI and data training, work closely with functional leaders to “To truly understand learners' needs, it’s essential to
ensure upskilling efforts directly address business challenges and drive
measurable impact. Here’s how to do it effectively
engage in direct conversations—not just with
learners, but also with their managers. These business
Collaborate early: Meet with department heads to understand the leaders provide crucial context about how data and
specific pain points that AI and data skills can help solve, such as
automating reporting, improving decision-making, or enhancing
AI skills are applied today and what’s expected in the
customer insights future. Communication with both groups ensures
training aligns with real business impact.”
Create role-specific learning pathways: Different teams require
different skills. Finance may need Power BI training, while marketing
might focus on ChatGPT for marketing copy creation. Janice Burns

Chief Learning Officer, Degreed


Define KPIs and measure impact: Set clear business-aligned success
metrics (e.g., "reduce manual reporting time by 30%") and track Watch Here
progress to demonstrate ROI.

By embedding learning into business priorities and maintaining ongoing


alignment with functional leaders, organizations can ensure upskilling
drives real outcomes, adoption, and competitive advantage.

49
The State of Data & AI Literacy 2025

2—Focus on
Change
Management
We’ve already seen that resistance to change is one of the
biggest barriers to data and AI adoption and upskilling.
This should come as no surprise, as the workforce naturally
feels uncertainty and fear when new technologies emerge.
Proactively addressing this resistance is key to successful
AI and data training initiatives.

50
The State of Data & AI Literacy 2025

Communication, communication, communication


People are more likely to embrace AI and data upskilling Use diverse and creative communication channels: "People are busy and
when they see how it directly aligns with their current role Engage employees through internal AI events,
organizations face constant
and career ambitions. When your workforce understands podcasts, office hours, and town halls to spark interest
how these skills can enhance daily operations, streamline and dialogue change. To make your upskilling
tasks, and open new growth opportunities, they are far program stand out—especially
more likely to engage with training programs. However, Focus on the “What’s in it for me”: Show how AI helps at scale—it must be engaging
simply announcing upskilling initiatives isn’t enough— in daily tasks—saving time, reducing manual work, and
leaders must think like marketers when communicating unlocking new possibilities—rather than using abstract and memorable. Strong change
about AI and data literacy, ensuring that messaging is terms management, with clear
clear, relevant, and compelling to every employee.

communication, branding, and


Build a decentralized network of champions:
This approach means going beyond standard email Empower AI advocates in each department to share personal marketing, is often
newsletters with training announcements and instead wins, guide peers, and build excitement locally what turns a good initiative into
reaching employees in meaningful ways with messaging a successful one."
that resonates. To drive engagement, excitement, and Create a centralized knowledge hub: Provide a single
adoption, organizations must treat upskilling like any resource with FAQs, case studies, and learning paths to
internal product launch, delivering the right message at make AI training easy to access and apply.


Emily Hayward

the right time through the right channels. Here are four
Transformation Team Manager at
tactics you can adopt today to effectively communicate By treating AI and data upskilling as a company-wide
Financial Conduct Authority
the importance of AI and data literacy: movement and adopting a marketer’s mindset,
organizations can boost engagement, build trust, and drive
Watch Here
meaningful adoption of AI literacy across the workforce.

51
The State of Data & AI Literacy 2025

Have leaders lead by example


The best way to create excitement for data and AI literacy is to incentivize Make leaders the first learners: Have executives and managers complete AI and data literacy
leaders to lead by example. Executives and managers should not just training before rolling it out to the broader workforce
endorse AI upskilling—they should actively participate. When leadership
commits to learning AI, it reinforces AI adoption as a strategic priority rather Encourage leaders to share their learning journeys: Feature leadership stories in town halls,
than a passing trend.

LinkedIn, internal newsletters, or company-wide discussions to show data and AI upskilling in


action
Leaders who engage in training, share their learning experiences, and
integrate AI into their workflows help normalize AI adoption across the Enable leaders to use data and AI in daily work: Help leaders identify real data and AI use cases
organization. The following are three tactics to help leaders lead by example:
for their roles—whether it is leading with the data during meetings or building automations with AI.

How Colgate upskilled 14,000+


employees with DataCamp
A great example comes from Colgate, which used DataCamp for
Business to upskill 14,000+ employees, with active participation from
the CEO and leadership team. By leading by example, Colgate
reinforced AI and data literacy as a company-wide priority, driving
engagement and making upskilling a strategic imperative.

52
The State of Data & AI Literacy 2025

3—Make Learning
Interactive and Useful
We saw earlier that one of the biggest challenges with
online learning is that passive, video-based learning does
not drive learning ROI. While videos can be useful, they
often fail to build practical, job-ready skills. Instead,
organizations should focus on creating memorable,
pedagogically sound learning experiences that engage
learners and drive real-world application.

53
The State of Data & AI Literacy 2025

Use interactive learning if How Just IT accelerated its blended learning


you’re using online training program with DataCamp
Data and AI skills are active by nature, requiring practice, Key features of the program
experimentation, and application. We’ve seen firsthand how
transformative active learning experiences can be, ensuring that Personalized learning paths with 100% active learning experiences
learners consume information and apply it in real-world A blended learning program where learners complete prerequisites on
scenarios.

DataCamp and Just IT instructors provide in-person training


100% certification pass rate for Just IT learners

A great example of this comes from Just IT, which runs a data
expert apprenticeship program designed to help organizations “If we compare other providers to DataCamp, they are polar opposites. Most
upskill teams on Python, R, SQL, Power BI, and Tableau.

learning providers are video-based, and lack that crucial interactivity needed to
learn data skills. So for us, choosing DataCamp was a no-brainer."
Despite offering Pluralsight courses and instructor-led training,
instructors found themselves spending too much time helping
beginners catch up instead of focusing on higher-level learning Scott Worland

objectives.

Service Delivery Manager


at Just IT
To solve this, Just IT leveraged DataCamp for Business’ custom
learning tracks to provide a modern, engaging learning
experience that helped learners develop prerequisite skills before Learn More
entering the program. As a result, instructors spent less time on
beginner fundamentals and more time on advanced topics,
leading to a 100% pass rate in their certification program.

54
The State of Data & AI Literacy 2025

Use blended learning as the stepping


stone for a learning culture “We've begun to build a "ritual" using
A mix of online training and instructor-led sessions can Internal conferences: Host company-wide DataCamp to set fun challenges
ensure your teams learn new AI and data skills and apply learning summits to showcase AI and data use followed by presentations for our
them effectively. However, building a true learning culture cases, employee success stories, and emerging
requires more than structured training. 

 trends—making data and AI literacy a strategic internal data community. So far,
priority.

we've had around 45 completed


Organizations that foster collaboration, engagement, and challenges. Over time we'll build an
friendly competition create an environment where Specsavers boosted engagement in their upskilling
upskilling becomes a shared experience rather than an program by using DataCamp’s gamification features expectation around these challenges,
isolated task.

like XP and leaderboards. To address skill gaps in which we're running on an


Power BI and Databricks, they launched tailored approximately monthly schedule.
Here are three practical ways to build a strong learning learning paths and competitions that drove adoption.

culture Using DataCamp's gamification,


The result: 115+ employees upskilled, each saving we’re able to generate some real
Competitions: Organize data and AI challenges, three–four hours per week—showcasing how blended energy for data learning.”
hackathons, and leaderboard-based competitions to learning and gamification drive real business impact.

create excitement and engagement around learning


Lorraine Pocklington

Lunch and learns with experts: Bring in internal and Data Community Manager
external experts for informal knowledge-sharing at Specsavers
sessions where employees can ask questions and
discuss real-world applications of AI and data.
Read The Case Study

55
The State of Data & AI Literacy 2025

4—Make Sure Data and AI

Literacy Go Hand-in-Hand

Earlier in this report, we saw that the demand for AI

literacy skills is now outpacing the demand for data

literacy. This is not surprising, especially given the urgency

around the adoption and deployment of AI within the

enterprise. That said, organizations should not make the

mistake of deprioritizing data literacy.

56
The State of Data & AI Literacy 2025

Why data and AI literacy are 


two sides of the same coin “AI is everywhere now,

so it’s critical employees

In many ways, data literacy and AI literacy are two sides of Frame the right questions: AI can process data, but
use it responsibly. At
the same coin; one cannot exist effectively without the other. employees must define what to measure and why
Salesforce, AI safety
While generative AI has recently dominated public discourse,

it is just one piece of the broader AI landscape.

Understand data quality: AI is only as good as its data. training is central to our

Employees need to identify poor-quality or biased data


data literacy efforts.
Traditional machine learning and predictive modeling— before trusting AI-generated insights
We've run live demos of
deeply rooted in data literacy—continue to be some of the

most valuable AI applications in organizations today. Assess bias in AI models: AI can amplify biases in the
AI "hacks" to highlight

Additionally, understanding data collection, quality, and data it’s trained on. Employees must critically evaluate AI-
risks and teach safe,
structure is essential for making sense of generative AI driven decisions to avoid reinforcing inaccuracies.

effective use.”
models. 

More importantly, as AI reduces the barrier to working with


Anjali Samani

data, having strong data literacy is essential for preventing


Senior Director of AI
errors and ensuring responsible AI-assisted data work. That’s
Engineering, Salesforce
why data and AI literacy must be mutually supportive.

Ultimately, data literacy enables employees to:


Watch Here

57
The State of Data & AI Literacy 2025

5—Personalize
Learning at Scale
As we’ve seen throughout this report, data and AI literacy
are not one-size-fits-all skills. Employees interact with
data and AI differently based on their roles, responsibilities,
and technical expertise. A finance executive may need to
understand how AI impacts risk modeling and regulatory
compliance, while a product manager might focus on
integrating AI into product development.

Similarly, marketers may need to become proficient in AI-


driven content generation, while engineers require deeper
knowledge of AI model development. To ensure relevance
and effectiveness, organizations must design learning
experiences that cater to these varying needs. This is
where learning personas come into play.

58
The State of Data & AI Literacy 2025

Find your learning personas


A learning persona is a well-developed archetype representing a specific segment of your workforce based on their data
and AI learning needs. Personas help you structure AI literacy programs in a way that makes training more engaging,
relevant, and practical for different teams.

At DataCamp, we have identified four distinct learning personas for data and AI literacy programs, each requiring different
levels of competency, as laid out in our Data & AI Competency Framework. You can download and edit this framework to
customize personas for your own organization.

How to create your own learning personas


While we recommend using the Data & AI Competency Framework to get started, every organization is unique. Below are best
practices for developing your own learning personas from scratch:

59
The State of Data & AI Literacy 2025

Understand your learners

Summarize and identify patterns

Iterate with learner feedback

Start by gathering insights into your workforce’s knowledge, Once you’ve collected data, analyze it to identify common Once your learning personas are in place, validate
usage patterns, and learning preferences related to data themes. Look for patterns in them with employee feedback. Conduct follow-up
and AI. Use surveys, interviews, focus groups, or surveys or interviews to refine personas and ensure
assessments to collect data on How people interact with AI and data they accurately reflect your workforce’s needs.

Their learning preference


Current role: How do individuals use data and AI in The barriers they fac By continuously iterating, you’ll develop a more
their daily tasks Their common learning goals

effective and scalable data and AI literacy program


that evolves with your organization. By leveraging
General data and AI understanding: What is their Build your personas

learning personas, organizations can deliver


baseline knowledge personalized, role-specific data and AI training,
Using these insights, create fictional profiles that represent ensuring that every employee receives training that is
Current data and AI usage: What tools are they using, each learning persona in your organization. These profiles practical, relevant, and aligned with their
and how comfortable are they should capture key characteristics, such as responsibilities.

Learning needs and preferences: How do people AI and data literacy leve
prefer to learn—self-paced courses, hands-on projects, Common use cases for AI and data in their rol
or workshops Preferred learning method
Challenges they face with AI adoption

Barriers to adoption: What challenges prevent


individuals from using data and AI effectively To simplify this process, we recommend using the
DataCamp persona framework alongside the Data & AI
Motivation to learn: What incentives would drive Competency Framework to build personas tailored to your
engagement in an data and AI literacy program?

organization.
60
The State of Data & AI Literacy 2025

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Despite these changes, it remains a key tool and steering


AI systems

02

Access the Data & AI Competency Framework


used by DataCamp for Business customers modeling &

and learning leaders worldwide to assess

skill gaps, guide upskilling, and build data- Curriculum


Cheat Sheet For Every Ski
ll Level

driven cultures across roles and industries.

01

6111
The State of Data & AI Literacy 2025

SECTION 5

What the Future Holds for


Data and AI Literacy
ON THE CUSP OF THE NEXT 

INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION
We opened this report by exploring how data
and AI are poised to usher in a future of
abundance—transforming industries,
accelerating innovation, and unlocking new
opportunities at scale.

But to truly seize this abundance, data and AI


literacy must become a non-negotiable.

The State of Data & AI Literacy 2025

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 Conclusion


DataFramed podcast The work on this report began in early January 2025, with the goal of uncovering
how organizations are navigating the shifting dynamics of data and AI literacy.
Throughout this report, we’ve explored the growing demand for AI skills, the
Listen Here persistent need for data literacy, the challenges organizations face in upskilling, and
the best practices that drive meaningful learning outcomes.

At DataCamp, we’ve had the privilege of collaborating with organizations worldwide


to bridge the data and AI skills gap. Through these partnerships, we’ve witnessed
Sign up to an
 firsthand how leaders champion data and AI literacy initiatives, drive workforce
transformation, and prepare their teams for an AI-driven future.

upcoming webinar This journey is just beginning. If you’re looking to equip your workforce with the skills
needed to thrive in the AI era, speak to our team today. Let’s build a more data-
Watch Here literate, AI-empowered world—together.

Methodology
Watch DataCamp
 This research was conducted using an online interview administered to members of
RADAR recordings YouGov Plc UK and a USA panel of individuals who have agreed to participate in
surveys. In this research, the survey features the opinions of a sample of 533
business leaders in the UK and the USA. The data was collected between 22.01.25—
Watch Here 11.02.25. The qualitative interviews referenced with thought leaders in the data and
education space were featured from the DataFramed podcast and DataCamp’s
Webinars and Conference Series. 

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The State of Data & AI Literacy 2025

Panel of
experts
Ellie Fields
 Paulina Davila
 Robin Sutara 
 Hannah Cuypers
Emily Hayward
Chief Product & Engineering VP, Analytics Insights & Field Chief Data Strategy Project Leader Digitalisation Transformation Team Manager
Officer at Salesloft
Storytelling at Officer at Databricks & IT at Porsche AG at Financial Conduct Authority
JPMorganChase

Lorraine Pocklington Anjali Samani
 Janice Burns


Eran Yahav
Michael Berthold

Data Community Manager Senior Director of AI Chief Learning Officer, CTO at Tabnine CEO at KNIME
at Specsavers Engineering at Salesforce Degreed

Uthman Ali
Tathagat Varma
Markus Rolle
Ranil Boteju
Sheil Naik

Global Head of Responsible Global TechOps Leader at Chief Financial Officer at Chief Data and Analytics Senior Technical Trainer and
AI at BP Walmart Global Tech Telefónica Germany Officer at Lloyds Banking Technical Program Manager for
Group Global Data at Bloomberg
40
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The State of Data & AI Literacy 2025

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world-class data and AI skills Learn why 16M+ learners and 6,000+ organizations prefer DataCamp for data and AI upskilling.

With DataCamp, build everyone’s data & AI skills, from busy executives to front-line workers.

A hands-on interactive learning A curated data and AI Deep personalization and


experience that works curriculum for everyone reporting capabilities
DataCamp is the go-to data and AI transformation
platform. Equip your workforce with the skills and tools From conceptual to coding Whether aimed at executives or Build tailored learning paths
exercises, your teams will put machine learning engineers, each and custom capstone projects
to work with data and AI at scale. their skills into action with DataCamp course is curated and with our track editor. Uncover
hands-on interactive handcrafted by a team of experts learning ROI with DataCamp’s
Make data-driven decisions—at scale exercises, right in the browser. to help you get started quickly. admin platform.

Empower your workforce to make faster and better


decisions with data. Beyond online learning—scale effective The best data and AI certifications
blended learning programs* for your team
Drive technology adoption Keep your team's data skills sharp at all
We know that online learning is not the only way to
Drive technology ROI by equipping your workforce with career stages with DataCamp Certifications,
bridge the data and AI skills gap. This is why we
the necessary skills to work with modern data and AI tools. an industry-aligned credential that validates
combine online learning on DataCamp with instructor-
led sessions tailored for your exact industry and their expertise during onboarding, transitions,
Accelerate growth and innovation or promotions.

audiences.

Drive and sustain innovation and enable your workforce


* Available as an added-value service

with a common data and AI language.

Retain and attract talent effectively More than 6,000+ organizations use DataCamp to transform how their teams use data and AI

Make skills the key to retaining and attracting top talent


with tools to easily drive learner engagement.
Read the case study Read the case study Read the case study Read the case study Read the case study Read the case study

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