Top 5 Findings From the 2025 Global State of Business Analysis Report
Key Takeaways
The 2025 Global State of Business Analysis Report highlights key trends shaping the profession and its growing strategic importance:
- Business analysis drives strategy: 76% of respondents report its growing impact, with 81% seeing formal recognition of the role. It’s increasingly viewed as a strategic force, not just a support function.
- Certification boosts careers: 95% recommend CBAP certification, with 81% seeing benefits like salary increases and confidence within a year. Certification remains a trusted tool for career growth.
- AI is reshaping the profession: 74% say AI positively impacts their careers, but human skills like communication and strategic thinking are more critical than ever as AI handles repetitive tasks.
- Salaries are steadily rising: Average salaries increased nearly 4% to $88,234, with mid-career professionals seeing the largest gains. Women’s salaries continue to slightly outpace men’s.
- Upskilling is essential: 74% of organizations invest in professional development, and self-study remains the top learning method. Continuous learning is key to staying competitive.
What’s shaping the future of business analysis? How is it influencing organizational strategy? What impact does IIBA certification have on professionals?
Now published, the 2025 Global State of Business Analysis Report answers all of these questions (and many more!). From the rise of AI to the enduring value of certification, it reveals key trends shaping the profession.
IIBA’s Global State of Business Analysis Report is about the practising business analysis professional. It offers a comprehensive view of the trends, demographics, and insights impacting business analysis worldwide. Each data point weaves into the larger narrative of the profession, challenging and inspiring practitioners to achieve more.
With responses from thousands of professionals across 171 countries, this year’s report highlights how business analysis is evolving—and why it’s more critical than ever.
Hot off the press, here are the top five takeaways you need to know.
1. Business Analysis Anchors Strategy in Uncertain Times
In a world of shifting markets and economic challenges, business analysis is stepping up as a strategic powerhouse. This year, 76% of respondents say its impact is growing, with 81% reporting formal recognition of the role within their organizations.
Notably, the percentage of professionals who see business analysis as a significant driver of strategy rose from 21% to 26%. Organizations are also improving how they incorporate business analysis standards, with 25% now saying they do so “very well” (up from 19%).
The takeaway? Business analysis is no longer just a support function—it’s a strategic force guiding organizations through uncertainty.
2. Certification: The Career Game Changer
Certification remains a reliable path to career growth and on-the-job confidence. A staggering 95% of respondents recommend the Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP) certification, and 81% report seeing tangible benefits within a year of earning their credentials.
From salary increases to boosted confidence, certification remains a key differentiator in a sometimes-tumultuous job market. In fact, for the fourth year in a row, increased confidence at work is the top-reported benefit of certification. I'm sensing a theme here...
It should come as no surprise, then, that 93% of respondents recommend certification to colleagues as a valuable career development tool. This remains an overwhelming majority, reflecting continued trust in the value of professional certification.
3. AI is Transforming Business Analysis Careers
What kind of impact will artificial intelligence have on your career? Well, according to the data, many practitioners are excited about the seemingly endless possibilities.
This year, 74% of respondents say AI is positively impacting their careers, up from 63% last year. Concerns about AI’s negative effects have also dropped, signalling growing confidence in its role. It’s a trend that shows no sign of slowing down in the years ahead.
But here’s the twist: human skills like communication, problem-solving, and adaptability are more important than ever. As AI takes on repetitive tasks, business analysis professionals are increasingly focusing on strategic thinking and decision-making, skills that machines can’t replicate yet.
4. Salaries for Business Analysis Professionals Are Rising (Again)
Salary and compensation trends point to a steady and positive trajectory for business analysis professionals, a recurring theme across our reports.
The data shows gradual growth in average salaries, reflecting continued demand for skilled talent. This consistent rise over the years highlights the resilience of the profession, instilling confidence in business analysis professionals across all career levels, even during uncertain economic times.
This year, the average salary increased from USD 84,918 in the previous report to USD 88,234—a nearly 4% rise. Women’s salaries rose by almost 4%, while men’s salaries increased by 2.7%, with women continuing to earn slightly more than men—a trend seen in the previous report.
Salaries by experience level remain stable year over year, with the most notable increase among professionals with 11 to 16 years of experience, rising from USD 91,501 to USD 94,913. Other experience brackets, including 0 to 2 years and 3 to 5 years, saw only minimal changes.
These trends highlight steady compensation across most career stages, with mid-career professionals seeing the most upward movement.
5. Upskilling Remains Non-Negotiable
Employers are doubling down on skills training, with 74% of respondents reporting that their organizations invest in professional development. While this is a slight dip from last year, it underscores the ongoing importance of upskilling in a competitive market.
This is paired with a rise in how many professionals (35%) say their employer offers a clear path to grow their skills and career, up 2% from the last report. Overall, it’s a small but positive shift that shows organizations continue to value career development.
How practitioners upskill is also important. Self-study remains the top learning method, with 35% of professionals preferring it, but it’s slightly increasing at the expense of other methods. Blended learning and online courses both saw minor decreases, from 28% to 27%, while classroom learning saw a small uptick.
With relatively stable numbers year-over-year, the message is clear: continuous learning is essential for staying ahead. And both professionals and organizations are continuing to buy in.
Looking Ahead
While technology continues to transform how we operate, human expertise is what creates true impact. Strong relationships. Adaptive thinking. Strategic communication. Nowadays, these are superpowers, not mere skills.The 2025 Global State of Business Analysis Report dives into the trends, techniques, and skills shaping our profession. Don’t miss your chance to explore the insights that matter. Together, business analysis professionals will continue shaping a profession where humans—not machines—lead the way to better business outcomes.
This is just a snapshot of the data we report on in the 2025 Global State of Business Analysis Report. If you’re a member, you can read the full report. Not a member? Explore the summary online edition or join IIBA today to access the full report.
About the Author
Robert McClements is the Communications and Media Relations Specialist at IIBA. With over eight years of communications experience at non-governmental organizations, he contributes to IIBA’s marketing and communications efforts in support of the business analysis profession and community. Residing in his hometown of Montreal, Robert enjoys spending time with his family, listening to music, and reading.
