Global Business Analysis Trends You Need to Know...
Receive free IIBA updates and exclusive content!
- BAs who hold at least one certification earn 13% higher than non-certified respondents
- 27% of Business Analysis Professionals work in Information Technology and 25% of Business Analysis Professionals work in Banking, Finance, and Insurance
- 38% of survey respondents report they are involved in Business Data Analytics
2020 is the year we reset how we work and where we work. Looking ahead of the global crisis how is the role of business analysis evolving?
As businesses prepared for COVID-19 reopening; rethinking, redefining, and re-evaluating their operations and strategic planning put the role of business analysis more front and center. Earlier this year LinkedIn listed Business Analysis as number 6 on their list of top 10 hard skills that are in-demand from employers in 2020. (1) The results of the 2020 Global Business Analysis Salary Survey provide a broad view of the skill sets, trends, and demographics that influence the global business analysis profession. The results of this year’s salary survey support how business analysis is evolving rapidly in this unprecedented year.
How can you use this data?
In this year’s survey we drilled down to look in more depth at techniques, Knowledge Areas from the BABOK® Guide, approaches, and soft and hard skills that business analysts ranked most important in their roles. We also explored the skills BA professionals need to work in agile, data analytics, digital, and cybersecurity.
For organizations: Use the results from the 2020 Global Business Analysis Salary Survey to define what skills in business analysis can help to support the accelerated transformation of COVID-19 redefined 2020 operational and strategic plans.
See how business analysis is changing for your employees. What certifications should they get? How can they be aligned to execute successful digital transformation? How can business analysts bridge the gap between data analytics and its value for businesses? How can business analysts support Agile projects? How do business analysis skill sets play a key role in cybersecurity?
For the individual: Use the 2020 salary survey results to define what skills are in demand, the certifications that will drive your career success, which industries are the largest employers of business analysis professionals, and which specialty areas offer the most growth.
For education providers and academic institutions: What certifications are seeing the greatest leaps in demand? What specializations can you support in your education programs or systems that can give your students the knowledge to launch a successful career?
The shape of future skills.
The Future of Jobs report from the World Economic Forum expects that by 2022 more than half of the working populations, 54%, will need significant reskilling and upskilling and the proportion of core skills to do a job will see an average shift in workplace skills of about 42%.(2) During COVID-19 we saw an increase in Business Analysis professionals writing certification exams. This upskilling trend is also evident in responses from contributors to IIBA’s 2020 Global Business Analysis Salary Survey that found 38% of respondents said they are involved in Business Data Analytics, 18% said they are active in cybersecurity, 70% reported they are engaged in digital initiatives, and 72% of BAs report practicing Agile approaches, and 63% of respondents indicated they are planning to transition to a Product Owner role in the near future. IIBA’s 2020 salary survey report looks at the top soft and hard skills, as well which Knowledge Areas from the BABOK® Guide that those practicing business analysis spend the most time practicing as well as the techniques and approaches they use most frequently in their role.
With all this change taking place are the results similar to last year? While particular industries were harder hit by the coronavirus crisis than others the survey (open from June-July 2020) did not see significant impact to jobs. There was fluctuation with salaries in some regions, however whether this was a result of COVID-19 is not known. We are not likely to see the full impact on jobs and salaries as a direct result of the pandemic until next year’s survey, in fact, 80% of respondents still reported working full-time. Encouragingly, we saw that 71% of respondents reported that their employer pays for their training. However, only 36% of respondents said their organization offers a defined career path. The number one reason for getting certified remains the same as last year; to gain higher confidence. The most popular credential to earn remains the Certified Business Analysis Professional™ (CBAP ®) designation with 32% of respondents stating they have achieved the CBAP credential.
We encourage you to explore the infographic and find the results that are meaningful to you!
IIBA Members login to download the full report.
References:
[1] LinkedIn. Most In-Demand Skills 2020. https://www.linkedin.com/business/learning/blog/learning-and-development/most-in-demand-skills-2020
[2] https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Future_of_Jobs_2018.pdf