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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesThe United States had an estimated 275,600 data scientist jobs in 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). BLS projects 35% employment growth from 2025 to 2035 and about 24,800 openings per year on average. That points to strong projected demand, but it does not by itself prove an occupation-wide shortage.
How many data scientists are there?
The latest BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile estimates 275,600 U.S. data scientist jobs in 2025. This is an employment estimate for the United States, not a worldwide count or a count of people currently seeking work. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Data Scientists
The estimate has a reference year: an earlier projection vintage reported 245,900 jobs in 2024. Those figures refer to different years and projection releases, so they should not be treated as competing estimates for the same year.
Is there a shortage of data scientists?
The official figures support the conclusion that demand is projected to grow quickly. They do not establish that employers, overall, have more open positions than qualified available workers. BLS reports projected employment growth and annual openings, not a direct measure of unfilled vacancies, time-to-fill, or the number of qualified job seekers.
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So the careful answer is: strong projected U.S. demand, but no demonstrated occupation-wide shortage in these figures. That does not rule out hiring difficulty for particular employers, locations, specialties, or experience levels.
What do the growth and openings figures mean?
Projected growth: 35% from 2025 to 2035
BLS projects U.S. data scientist employment to grow 35% between 2025 and 2035. This is a projection under stated assumptions, not a guarantee that employment or hiring will rise by that amount. BLS explains that its projections describe what would be expected under specific assumptions and circumstances, rather than forecasting exactly what will happen. BLS Employment Projections: Technical Note
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Annual openings: about 24,800 on average
BLS projects about 24,800 openings per year on average over 2025–35. Openings are not the same as 24,800 simultaneously vacant jobs. The estimate includes positions created by employment growth and opportunities arising when workers transfer to other occupations or leave the labor force, including through retirement. It therefore measures expected hiring opportunities over time, not a snapshot of unfilled demand.
Why projections do not prove a shortage
Employment can grow rapidly without the available evidence showing a shortage. To assess a shortage directly, a reader would want measures such as vacancies relative to qualified job seekers, how long positions remain open, and differences by location, specialty, and experience. The cited BLS occupation profile supplies projected growth and openings, but not those shortage measures.
BLS projections also rely on assumptions, and actual outcomes can differ if those assumptions do not hold. The projection methodology assumes labor-market equilibrium in the projected year; it is not designed as a direct test of whether a specific occupation will have too few qualified workers. BLS Employment Projections: Technical Note
What the numbers mean for someone considering data science
BLS describes data scientists as workers who select useful data sources, collect and analyze data, build and test algorithms or models, visualize results, and make recommendations. A bachelor’s degree in mathematics, statistics, computer science, or a related field is typical; some employers require or prefer a master’s or doctoral degree. These details describe the occupation and common education expectations, but do not establish that a particular course or degree will lead to a job or resolve an employer’s hiring needs. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Data Scientists
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why older figures may differ
Earlier 2024–34 projections listed 245,900 U.S. jobs in 2024, 328,300 projected in 2034, 34% projected growth, and 23,400 average annual openings. These figures belong to the prior BLS projection vintage displayed by O*NET OnLine; the current Occupational Outlook Handbook profile uses 2025 employment and 2025–35 projections. O*NET OnLine: Data Scientists
A BLS Monthly Labor Review overview of the 2024–34 projections put data scientist growth at 33.5% and ranked it fourth-fastest among occupations overall. That historical ranking uses the earlier projection period; it is not the current 2025–35 growth figure. BLS Monthly Labor Review: 2024–34 employment projections
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What can be said about the global count?
The cited official statistics provide a U.S. estimate, not a comparable global headcount or a worldwide shortage measure. The 275,600 figure should not be presented as the number of data scientists around the world. Conditions may also differ within the United States by employer, region, specialty, and seniority, which the headline projection does not resolve.
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