Key Takeaways
- Demand for advanced analytics skills up more than 4x, database architecture skills up 150%
- A signal that AI is only as powerful as the data it's built on
- Clear executive alignment between technology and business goals is key to attracting talent
- Is your organization's job posting looking for someone who can build a strong data foundation?
According to a report released earlier this month by global executive search firm Heidrick & Struggles, a comparison of hiring demand from January through July against the prior six months showed that demand for advanced analytics skills more than quadrupled, while demand for database architecture and data management skills rose 150%. Interestingly, neither of these skill categories includes 'AI' in the job title.
Sunny Ackerman, Global Managing Partner of Heidrick & Struggles' on-demand talent practice and a partner in the firm's Los Angeles office, said, "AI is only as powerful as the data it's built on," adding that "organizations therefore need talent who can build a solid data foundation, strengthen governance, improve data quality, and turn that information into useful insights."
Implications for AX at Korean Companies
What this report highlights is clear: what organizations pursuing AI transformation are actually looking for in the hiring market isn't a job title like 'AI Engineer,' but people who know how to organize and structure data. For Korean companies considering AI adoption, it makes more sense to first assess how solid their own data foundation is, rather than simply attaching 'AI' to job postings.
Ackerman also spoke about the role of the CIO. "The best talent is drawn to organizations where technology has visible executive sponsorship, where teams can work across departments, and where leaders have a clear mandate to turn investment into measurable outcomes," she explained, adding that "for many companies, this means breaking away from legacy systems and disconnected data." This suggests the challenge isn't confined to technology organizations alone—it's also about how clearly executives connect technology investment with business objectives.
Ackerman also noted that a hybrid strategy—combining full-time hiring and continuous learning with the use of interim talent when specific expertise is urgently needed—can help organizations respond to rapidly changing conditions. If it's difficult to maintain data architecture talent in-house on an ongoing basis, borrowing outside expertise on a project basis is also worth considering.
Ultimately, this report raises one core question for Korean companies: when an organization talks about adopting AI, it's worth first checking who is actually responsible for the underlying data structure and governance.
Source: AI efforts drive up demand for analytics, database architecture skills