What is a data analyst?

A data analyst takes raw data and analyzes it using specific methods or models. Data analysts work in numerous fields, and their methods or skills vary widely according to the type of work they are doing. Operations research analysts, for example, use specific analytical techniques to improve business intelligence, logistics, a company’s efficiency, or health care delivery. An economic data analyst, on the other hand, might use economic data, such as productivity indicators, employment information, and population estimates, to make predictions about a city’s future economic outlook.