data engineering
The process of developing and constructing systems for implementing data collection and analysis at large scale.
data engineering — the process of developing and constructing systems for implementing data collection and analysis at large scale. McKinsey's Skill Change Index places it in the declining band (SCI 58.45/100) — a skill likely to fall in demand as AI and automation cover more of its ground by 2030, and is one of the Technical AI skills McKinsey identifies as specialised for AI-building work. ESCO classifies it as a cross-sector (useful across many industries) skill within knowledge. It is currently listed by 3 occupations in our catalogue, including knowledge engineer, computer vision engineer, and data analyst.
Occupations that require data engineering
Showing top 3 of 3 occupations · ranked by India employment volume, then AI-durability.
Frequently asked questions
What is data engineering?
The process of developing and constructing systems for implementing data collection and analysis at large scale.
What category of skill is data engineering?
ESCO classifies data engineering under the knowledge category, specifically in the computer use subcategory.
Is data engineering an AI-durable skill?
McKinsey's Skill Change Index places it in the declining band (SCI 58.45/100) — a skill likely to fall in demand as AI and automation cover more of its ground by 2030. Prioritise this skill only when it directly enables paid work today — plan for AI to absorb more of it every year.
Is data engineering one of the Technical AI skills?
Yes — data engineering is on McKinsey's Technical AI shortlist, the set of specialised skills relevant to building, tuning, and deploying AI systems rather than just using them.
Which jobs require data engineering?
In our catalogue, 3 occupations list data engineering as a required or important skill. The top occupations by employment volume include knowledge engineer, computer vision engineer, data analyst.
How transferable is data engineering between industries?
ESCO tags data engineering as a cross-sector (useful across many industries) skill — a signal of how portable it is when you change field.
Is data engineering the same as data engineering methods?
Yes — data engineering is also known as data engineering methods. They refer to the same underlying capability in the ESCO taxonomy.
How can I learn data engineering?
The most reliable path is to pick a job or project that demands data engineering and learn through delivery. Complement that with role-specific roadmaps and short courses. Explore the occupations below to see where this skill is used in practice.