Analytical skills are the ability to deconstruct information into smaller categories in order to draw conclusions. These skills are essential in many jobs that require critical thinking and problem-solving. Analytical skills consist of several categories, including logical reasoning, critical thinking, communication, research, data analysis, and creativity. They are taught in contemporary education with the intention of fostering the appropriate practices for future professions. The professions that adopt analytical skills include educational institutions, public institutions, community organizations, and industry.

Analytical skills help individuals assess information and facts, problem-solve, and implement the best solutions. They are highly transferable among professions and apply to multiple fields, not just in traditional data-heavy or analytics roles. Some examples of analytical skills include data analysis, logical thinking, research, creativity, and communication.

While analytical skills are a type of soft skill, individuals may apply hard skills to help them become better analytical thinkers. For instance, data analytics is a hard skill that can be used to show off analytical skills. However, individuals do not need to know multiple coding languages or analytics programs to demonstrate analytical thinking. They can also show analytical thinking through how they describe their problem-solving methods and approach at work.