Is the AI and Data Job Market Dead?

Despite recurring claims that data science is dying, job postings grew 130% year-over-year after bottoming out in mid-2023, and salaries continue to rise. The field has evolved from a generalist 'Swiss Army Knife' role into three distinct specializations: analyst, engineering (ML engineer), and infrastructure (data engineer). A 2025 study of 285,000 companies shows senior hiring is still growing while junior hiring has plateaued—not disappeared—making entry-level competition fiercer. To stand out, candidates should specialize in areas like GenAI or time series forecasting, build strong professional networks, develop soft skills AI can't replace, and consider starting in analyst roles before moving up.