Is Data Science Hard to Learn? (Answer: NO!) (2024)

“Is data science hard to learn?”, “Is data science a hard job?”, “Is it hard to get a data science job?”.... Are you a data science enthusiast who believes data science is hard and keeps thinking about such questions? Allow us to challenge your thoughts and read this blog as we will help you answer all those questions.

First, we will present you with interesting facts about data science to justify the hype around the exciting domain of data science. Next, we will discuss the skills one needs to become a successful data scientist. After that, we will give you the statistics of the number of jobs in data science to further motivate your inclination towards data science. Lastly, we will present you with one of the best resources for smoothening your learning data science journey.

Access Job Recommendation System Project with Source Code

So, tighten your seatbelts because we are about to start!

Is Data Science Hard to learn?

The short answer to the above question is a big NO! Data Science is hard to learn is primarily a misconception that beginners have during their initial days. As they discover the unique domain of data science more, they realise that data science is just another field of study that can be learned by working hard.

Is Learning Data Science Worth It?

Data Science is the new black! Why do we say so? That’s because Harvard Business School has named Data Scientist as the sexiest job of the 21st century. And, if you think this may not be true anymore because Harvard stated that in 2012, we have another interesting fact to share with you. “Data Scientist” job was ranked as the best job in America for four consecutive years in a row ( 2016-2019). In 2020, it ranked at number three, but it has stepped up again to number two in the current year, 2021.

The above statistics clearly reflect that it is still an excellent time to become a data scientist. And, if you have made up your mind, the odds are surely in your favour because the US Bureau of Labor Statistics has reported that by 2026, there will be 11.5 million new jobs in Data Science. Furthermore, a study done by Robotic Process Automation Software and The Economist Intelligence Unit has revealed that about 88% of the businesses favour automation of tasks and believe that automation will accelerate human achievement. And about 79% of them affirmed that automation will be most effective when it complements the current manforce and does not replace them.

Get Closer To Your Dream of Becoming a Data Scientist with 70+ Solved End-to-End ML Projects

Given that every startup to MNC is leveraging data to draw insights every day, these numbers do not seem surprising at all. So, one thing is sure that automation is the future and learning data science is worth the hard work. Now that we have hopefully impressed you with the factual information around data science, we will now like to talk about how hard is it to get into data science by discussing the skills required to become a data scientist in the next section.

Recommended Reading: Data Scientist Salary -The Ultimate Guide

Is data science a hard major to get into?

Time to recall your sophom*ore years! For once, we all doubt ourselves and wonder if we will be able to qualify for all the exams of our courses. Eventually, with hard work and patience, we all make it to the end. Similar is the case with data science. Learning data science might seem difficult if you are not working hard enough or are unclear about what you need to know to become a data scientist. So, to clear the air, we would like to present you with a list of skills required to become a data scientist in 2021.

• Efficient at managing and organising a variety of tasks.

• Knowledge of machine learning algorithms and deep learning algorithms.

• Strong statistical and mathematical skills.

• Strong programming skills.

• Experience in handling large datasets and drawing meaningful conclusions from them.

• Good problem solving, presentation, and analytical skills.

• Desire to work on performing challenging tasks and mastering new technologies.

• Experience with Big data tools like Hadoop, Spark, etc. is considered a bonus.

Now, all these skills usually give off the idea to most people that data science is a hard job. And that may be the case with you as well if you are aiming to attain those skills in one go. However, if you target them one by one, you will be able to comprehend that it is more about strategic learning and less about the level of difficulty.

So, after one has learned all the skills required to become a data scientist, what do they do next? They aim for a data science job. The question now that is pretty natural to ask is, is it hard to find a job in data science? Check out the next section to know the answer.

Recommended Reading: 7 Step Guide to Become a Freelance Data Scientist

How hard is it to get into data science?

If you have acquired the right skill set, it won’t be difficult for you to get into data science and start your career as a data scientist. The opportunities are abundant for those who have mastered the art of data science. And, by that, we don’t mean you have to be a Ph.D. or a master’s degree holder to get your first job as a data scientist. In fact, as per the California University of Pennsylvania, about 61% of the data science jobs have a bachelor’s degree as the requirement.

Another thing to keep in mind is that the jobs in data science are only expected to increase as more and more companies are showing interest in the power of data. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics has estimated that by 2026, data science jobs will increase by 28%. So, you can keep all your worries about the number of jobs at bay for the next five years at least and start focusing on improving your skills. Now, if you are wondering where to start, continue reading this article as we shine a light on one of the best learning sources for data science.

Unravelling the Myth: Why is it hard to get a job in data science?

In this section, we are going to challenge one of the most misunderstood statements that revolve around data science being hard and the resulting question that stems from it- why is it hard to get into data science? The only answer we have is if you are full of zeal and determination to learn data science, you will smoothly sail through all the challenges and land a data science job easily.

But, how to learn data science from scratch? You can start by working on simple problems and then gradually raise the level of difficulty.
If you don’t know where to begin, check out the following list of data science project ideas for beginners and get started with your journey to the dream job of a data scientist today.

• Pairwise ranking and sentiment analysis of Ecommerce Product Reviews

• Time Series Analysis Project on Stock Market forecasting

• Loan Eligibility Prediction using Gradient Boosting Classifier

• Machine Learning Project-Walmart Store Sales Forecasting

• Using Autoencoders for Credit Card Anomaly Detection

• Market basket analysis using apriori and fpgrowth algorithm

FAQs on Learning Data Science

Is data science a hard job?

No, if one has learned the right set of skills, data science will not be a hard job for them. The field of data science is new and has not matured fully yet. So it might seem difficult when you start. But once you learn the nuts and bolts of it, it is not a hard job.

Is data science hard than software engineering?

Software Engineering is a course that involves an enrolled student exploring different software and programming languages, their applications, and codes from scratch. However, data science is an amalgamation of various disciplines like statistics, probability, programming, analytics, etc. Both are different and can not be compared.

Is it hard to get into data science with a master's in statistics?

It is actually the other way around. It is easier to learn data science if you have a master’s degree in statistics. That’s because statistics lies at the heart of many machine learning and deep learning algorithms that are used by data scientists every day.

What are the requirements to learn machine learning?

Here are the prerequisites for learning machine learning:

• Basic Mathematical Skills

• Linear Algebra

• Programming Skills

• A decent Laptop

Is it hard to move from consulting into a data science technical role?

No, it is not hard to switch from consulting to the role of a data scientist. It all depends on where you are learning it from. With the right resources like ProjectPro’s solved practical projects, it shouldn’t be difficult at all.