Those in-Demand Analysts — Who are They?

As we move towards a digital society, the term ’analytics’ is becoming extremely popular and frequently used. The pool of people whose work is dominated by analytical skills is also widening. Scientists, especially philosophers, have “sounded the alarm”, claiming, as it seems to us, to be the only bearers of these qualities. The purpose of this publication is to systematical approaches to the definition of the concept, in particular, by identifying three areas of work and labor activity with different levels of demand for mental and analytical skills, as well as by comparing approaches to the definition in Russian and foreign science. The first area — professions for which analytics is the main content of labor, or rather activity: scientists, intelligence officers, diplomats. The second is professions where analytics is one of the competences (important or secondary). Let’s give credit to researchers-practitioners, they have decomposed competences into their constituent parts (actions, skills and knowledge) in a detailed and systematic way on the example of business analysts. The article analyses two Orders of the Ministry of Labor (1998 and 2018) that reflected the systemic approach. The third area is the sphere of public (and not only) life, where analytical skills are also in demand. Somewhat aside is the approach expressed in the foreign literature, we would like to present it as well. The authors conclude by posing a broader question: whether analytical skills (through training) need to be spread, making people more rational in their personal lives in general and competent citizens in particular.