New analysis reveals that millions of UK employees want to improve their data skills but are being denied the opportunity to do so.
The research, conducted by RRC International, found that nine in ten workers (30.9 million) want to improve their data skills, yet almost half of employees in the UK are given little to no dedicated time during the working day to develop them. The result is a workforce of more than 15 million people who want to upskill but cannot.
The findings, which analysed data from Multiverse’s Skills Intelligence Report (2024) and a 2025 survey of UK workers commissioned by People Management, comes at a time when employer expectations around data literacy are reaching an all-time high.
According to independent research by YouGov, 88% of leaders now consider basic data literacy essential to day-to-day work – holding these skills to the same regard as long-established workplace fundamentals like writing and project management.
Richard Stockley, Managing Director at RRC International, comments: “Our study tells a story of a workforce that is ready and willing to learn, but is not being given the tools or the time to do so.
“Data analysis skills are no longer just important for those working in IT departments or as analysts. Whether you’re in HR, operations or finance, being able to read, interpret and act on data is fast becoming a baseline expectation. And for those in health and safety, having good data literacy can be the difference between keeping colleagues safe and well in the workplace, and not.”
For employers, the consequences of inaction are measurable. Reports show that workers in the UK lose an estimated 27 days a year to inefficient data handling, costing British businesses up to £62bn a year. Organisations with mature, structured data literacy programmes, meanwhile, were found to be nearly twice as likely to report significant return on investment from their wider technology spending.
Richard Stockley continues: “The good news is that this gap is entirely closeable. Workers are not disengaged, they are actively seeking learning and development opportunities. What’s needed are accessible, flexible training options that fit around the realities of working life as well as a deeper understanding from leadership that investing in employees’ training means investing in your business and its future.”
Find out more about RRC and how to develop your team’s data analysis skills now.