Data Privacy Day Marks Growing Importance of Privacy Professionals

LinkedIn’s “Jobs on the Rise” list reveals that 68% of the job titles featured did not exist two decades ago, highlighting the rapid evolution of professions within the privacy sector. Over the past 20 years, a diverse range of roles, including lawyers, project managers, engineers, and product managers dedicated to privacy, has emerged alongside privacy-centric startups and companies. This growth is set to continue, propelled by advancements in artificial intelligence and the expansion of data-driven industries.

The enactment of the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in 2018 has significantly contributed to this trend, leading to an increase in the creation of privacy-focused startups and job opportunities. Positions such as privacy engineers, data management engineers, privacy program managers, and privacy lawyers have become more prevalent. In the last five years, LinkedIn has observed a 35% increase in members with the title of chief privacy officer, a 40% growth in privacy engineer roles, and over a 30% rise in members listing GDPR as a skill.

Despite the burgeoning demand for privacy professionals, the talent pool remains relatively small, resulting in a high turnover rate, with a median tenure at companies of only 1.2 years. The field also experiences a gender disparity, with men making up 67% and women 33% of the workforce, indicating a significant shift from the past when privacy responsibilities were often secondary to other professional roles.

As the privacy community commemorates Data Privacy Day, there is a shared sense of optimism and conviction about the future. The ongoing development of generative AI and other technological innovations underscores the increasing need for specialists in privacy engineering, law, product management, data management, and ethics. The advent of GDPR has already catalyzed new career paths in privacy, and the responsible advancement of AI is expected to further expand opportunities in this vital field.

LinkedIn’s “Jobs on the Rise” list reveals that 68% of the job titles featured did not exist two decades ago, highlighting the rapid evolution of professions within the privacy sector. Over the past 20 years, a diverse range of roles, including lawyers, project managers, engineers, and product managers dedicated to privacy, has emerged alongside privacy-centric startups and companies. This growth is set to continue, propelled by advancements in artificial intelligence and the expansion of data-driven industries.

The enactment of the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in 2018 has significantly contributed to this trend, leading to an increase in the creation of privacy-focused startups and job opportunities. Positions such as privacy engineers, data management engineers, privacy program managers, and privacy lawyers have become more prevalent. In the last five years, LinkedIn has observed a 35% increase in members with the title of chief privacy officer, a 40% growth in privacy engineer roles, and over a 30% rise in members listing GDPR as a skill.

Despite the burgeoning demand for privacy professionals, the talent pool remains relatively small, resulting in a high turnover rate, with a median tenure at companies of only 1.2 years. The field also experiences a gender disparity, with men making up 67% and women 33% of the workforce, indicating a significant shift from the past when privacy responsibilities were often secondary to other professional roles.

As the privacy community commemorates Data Privacy Day, there is a shared sense of optimism and conviction about the future. The ongoing development of generative AI and other technological innovations underscores the increasing need for specialists in privacy engineering, law, product management, data management, and ethics. The advent of GDPR has already catalyzed new career paths in privacy, and the responsible advancement of AI is expected to further expand opportunities in this vital field.