Browse Skills query languages

query languages

🔻 Declining ESCO reuse: sector-specific

The field of standardised computer languages for retrieval of information from a database and of documents containing the needed information.

query languages — the field of standardised computer languages for retrieval of information from a database and of documents containing the needed information. McKinsey's Skill Change Index places it in the declining band (SCI 92.44/100) — a skill likely to fall in demand as AI and automation cover more of its ground by 2030. ESCO classifies it as a sector-specific (rooted in one industry) skill within knowledge. It is currently listed by 11 occupations in our catalogue, including Database administrators, Database architects, big data archive librarian, and data centre operator.

Category: knowledge › software and applications development and analysis SCI: 92.44/100 Also known as: DMX, SuprTool, OttoQL, XPath, QUEL, ISBL

Occupations that require query languages

Showing top 11 of 11 occupations · ranked by India employment volume, then AI-durability.

Database administrators 👥 150,000 · 🤖 8.4/10
Database architects 👥 40,000 · 🤖 6.7/10
big data archive librarian · 🤖 5.5/10
data centre operator · 🤖 5.5/10
data quality specialist · 🤖 5.5/10
data warehouse designer · 🤖 5.5/10
database integrator · 🤖 6.0/10
data analyst · 🤖 6.2/10
database developer · 🤖 6.9/10
data entry clerk · 🤖 7.3/10
data entry supervisor · 🤖 7.3/10

Frequently asked questions

What is query languages?

The field of standardised computer languages for retrieval of information from a database and of documents containing the needed information.

What category of skill is query languages?

ESCO classifies query languages under the knowledge category, specifically in the software and applications development and analysis subcategory.

Is query languages an AI-durable skill?

McKinsey's Skill Change Index places it in the declining band (SCI 92.44/100) — 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.

Which jobs require query languages?

In our catalogue, 11 occupations list query languages as a required or important skill. The top occupations by employment volume include Database administrators, Database architects, big data archive librarian, data centre operator, data quality specialist, data warehouse designer.

How transferable is query languages between industries?

ESCO tags query languages as a sector-specific (rooted in one industry) skill — a signal of how portable it is when you change field.

Is query languages the same as DMX?

Yes — query languages is also known as DMX, SuprTool, OttoQL, XPath, QUEL, ISBL, .QL, or F-logic. They refer to the same underlying capability in the ESCO taxonomy.

How can I learn query languages?

The most reliable path is to pick a job or project that demands query languages 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.

Data: ESCO v1.2.1 (CC-BY-4.0). Durability framework informed by McKinsey Global Institute (Nov 2025). See our methodology.