2026 Skills gap report

The state of analytics hiring

66% of analytics leads now say the skills gap is severe or growing. Hiring for volatility forecasting and technical model critique is more difficult than in previous years. Upskilling is now considered a business risk by many executive teams.

A majority of analytics hiring leads say they face a shortage of candidates with the technical skills to address advanced volatility forecasting challenges. The situation has not improved since 2023.

• 66% Report a moderate or severe skills gap
• 59% Say hiring is more difficult than last year
• 52% Rate their team’s technical upskilling needs as urgent

Most organisations now report hiring difficulty for roles demanding advanced volatility analytics and model validation. A minority feel their teams have the technical depth required to challenge or improve legacy models.

Which analytics roles face the biggest gap?

Roles under pressure

Most hiring leads say the shortage is felt most in model validation, peer review, and technical lead roles. These positions require not only coding skills, but also the ability to challenge assumptions and document evidence.

The gap is most acute in roles that demand scrutiny and critique—model validation, peer review, and technical leadership. Generalist analytics positions are also affected but to a lesser extent.

• 35% Model validation and audit roles affected
• 32% Peer review/technical lead roles affected
• 24% General analytics/quant roles affected
• 9% Other roles or not specified

Model validators, peer reviewers, and analytics leads are the most affected by the gap. Employers increasingly value candidates who can demonstrate both technical skill and the ability to critique model assumptions.

What are the most common responses?

Closing the gap

Upskilling is now a continuous process. Clinics, peer review, and external programmes are now part of standard analytics development in leading firms.

Organisations have shifted from one-off training to ongoing upskilling and peer review. Most invest in a mix of internal and external analytics development to retain technical talent and improve outcomes.

• 47% Support in-house upskilling initiatives
• 34% Sponsor external analytics programmes
• 14% Offer technical peer review sessions
• 5% Take no active measures yet

Most teams respond by supporting ongoing upskilling and peer learning initiatives. In-house clinics and external programmes are becoming standard practice. Organisations that invest in upskilling see improved retention and technical outcomes.