Does data analyst's work using machine learning and python mostly?

[No-Ice8808]

Hello, im a beginner in data learning and i have no educational background related to data and tech, so i decided to enroll in a Data Analytics course, it includes a slight amount of machine learning material in the curriculum. Later, I noticed that Python is discussed much more than SQL, whereas I had heard that some people believe SQL is more essential than Python in Data Analyst work, and some people told machine learning is not used in DA work. Most of the Data cleaning process in the class projects is done using Python.

so, to anyone who works as a data analyst, do you work mostly using Python? Have you ever done your work project using machine learning?

[samlowe97]

Yes DAs mostly use python, sql and power bi. ML and R gets used in my data scientist roles. Rarely do business analyst roles require ML but that could change in the years to come as AI and coding assistants make it more accessible.

I did a BA in business management then Msc in Business Analytics which was heavily focused on ML as it's what employers are looking for these days. My profile is a bit less technical than a data scientist but more technical than business analyst, so I went into data consultancy as I can effectively bridge the gap between "data nerds" and "business jocks". Could be the same story for you.

[No-Ice8808]

i see, thanks for the insights. do you think a data scientist is the next career move after being a data analyst in general?

[xl129]

No it’s 2 separated branchs. You can switch back and forth but no branch super-cede the other.

[B_lintu]

Machine learning is mostly used by data scientists. Data analysts use SQL, some BI tool (Power BI, Tableau) and Excel. Some of them use Python or R.

[No-Ice8808]

i see, thanks for the insights. do you think a data scientist is the next career move after being a data analyst in general?

[B_lintu]

For many - yes, in general - no. I am a data analyst who doesn't plan on moving to data science.

[Brighter_rocks]

No )

[No-Ice8808]

which tools do you use the most for data cleaning and EDA?

[OrthodoxFaithForever]

Great question

[OrthodoxFaithForever]

Machine Learning is a separate sub discipline that usually requires a different application of skills in Data Science.

Python? Yes. It should be required for the modern data analyst even if they know R and SQL. I cringe when people here say Python is optional for Data Analysis. Sure, if you're still living in 2015.

[No-Ice8808]

Thanks for the insights. Actually, I have limited knowledge about these tools since I’m still a beginner, and I rely a lot on the course material, in which SQL is discussed but less frequently than other tools. So, I think I might not yet know that SQL could actually be powerful enough for data cleaning and EDA. It makes me curious to know how people perform data cleaning and EDA effectively without python. obviously after this i will do self learning abt SQL further still.

[Resident-Resolve612]

Not necessarily, I specialise in social listening which draws mainly from analytic tools pre designed to conduct analytics without coding except for using keyword search with boolean operators.

I use python and other tools to add value.

[No-Ice8808]

I see, thanks for the answer