A remote job in data science offers flexibility and makes it easier to make a career pivot

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Imagine a job that has long-term career growth projections, remote work availability, six-figure earning potential, and a spike in job demand. That’s exactly what you get with a career in data science, per research from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Data science and analytics roles are projected by the BLS to be up by 36% for the next few years up to 2033. That’s much faster than the average job growth rate, and adds about 20,800 new vacancies every year.

A career in data science offers flexibility, consistently high demand, and opportunities for you to work as a freelancer (like a freelance data/business analyst or freelance BI analyst), as well as opportunities for you to work directly for an employer if you choose.

Data science is the backbone of AI, innovation, business development and expansion into new markets, and automation. And since AI is the fastest growing skill overall in 2025 (according to Coursera’s Job Skills Report), it makes sense that data skills would also be ranking highly as skills to acquire for 2025 and beyond.

Why Learn Data Science In 2025?

In addition to the reasons listed above, data science is a great skill to learn because:

You can learn it without getting an expensive, time-consuming degree, through online certifications and training.
Even at entry-level, data science roles can pay very well.
Data science is a highly transferable skill that is needed across every industry, especially in sectors like healthcare, marketing, tech, and finance; this means you have more career opportunities and can more easily make a career pivot to a different industry with your skill set.
Freelance data analysts are in demand and you can offer your services for consulting projects while working from the comfort of your home.
Businesses rely on data-driven decision making to enable them to “improve their business processes, to design and develop new products, and to better market their products,” says the BLS on their website regarding the job outlook for data scientists. Companies also need talent with this skill to train AI models–a core part of AI implementation.

7 Free Courses To Learn Data Science In 2025

(Note, Coursera courses have financial aid available; in some cases you can get them totally free, and in other cases you would be eligible to as much as 75% or 90% off the original price, making it almost free.)

Python for Data Science, by Cognitive Class
Data Science Visualization, by Harvard University via edX (you can audit for free)
Data Science: Inference and Modeling, by Harvard University via edX
Data Science: Linear Regression, by Harvard University via edX
IBM Data Science Professional Certificate, via Coursera
Data Science Foundations, by IBM SkillsBuild
Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate, via Coursera

Who Is A Remote Job In Data Science Suited For?

A remote job or career in data science is not for everyone. It honestly depends on your career goals and your existing strengths. You’ll need to figure out what skills you already have that complement a role in data science before embarking on learning and developing this skill further.

Can you see yourself in any of the below examples? If so, you should consider studying the above courses to start you on your career path to becoming a data analyst or other data-driven role:

You enjoy problem solving and critical thinking. You like puzzles and finding answers below the surface.
You have a curious mindset and love uncovering and identifying patterns
You like working with AI and algorithms
You’re a freelance professional or business owner seeking to improve specific outcomes in your work so your client base and quality of services can continue to grow
You have a background in finance, IT, ecommerce, or marketing

Data science skills are within the top three skills for the future

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These courses and certifications help you develop essential skills in areas like programming, data analysis, visualization, and AI and machine learning, and you can place them on your resume and LinkedIn profile when complete (although you may need to pay for a certificate at the end). So go ahead, and start learning with one of these free courses today.