Careers in Business Analytics | Touro University Worldwide

Once seen as a luxury, business analysts have become a necessity in the modern business world. Rather than asking someone with other responsibilities to handle an analyst’s duties, organizations across all industries increasingly hire employees with a sole focus on business analysis.

Due to high demand, careers in business analytics offer significant flexibility. Those in the profession may work in any industry, but the details of the job vary greatly depending on the industry or the project team. That type of variety appeals to professionals who want more control over their work.

The demand for business analysts is strong. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects a 9% increase in the number of management analysts over the next decade, with more than 94,000 people joining the profession.

What Kind of Work Do Business Analysts Handle?

Private companies and government agencies hire business analysts to help develop data-driven business strategies and business sustainability. Their work is now seen as fundamental to establishing ambitious business goals. While the work varies by company and industry, careers in business analytics share certain similarities. According to the BLS, they include the following.

Gathering and organizing information about challenges that need to be solved
Interviewing employees and conducting onsite observations to determine methods, equipment, and personnel that will be necessary to tackle the problem
Analyzing data, including data on revenues, expenditures, and employment reports
Developing options for solutions or alternative practices
Recommending new systems, procedures, or organizational changes
Making recommendations to management
Conferring with managers to ensure changes are working

Entry into the field can include a degree in business with a focus on analysis.

Why Business Analysts Are Needed

Because of their transferable skills, business analysts bring value to an organization in many different ways. They are typically involved in changing how a business operates, including expanding into other markets or making operations more efficient. They also provide a conduit for communication between project teams and stakeholders in whatever they work on. Some of those areas include the following.

Cybersecurity. While business analysts don’t work exclusively on this issue, they add another layer of skilled oversight to handling sensitive data. That includes client data and information about a company’s internal operations, including financial figures.

Crossover skills. Business analysts typically focus on using data to find ways of making an operation more efficient while increasing income. With some companies tightening the belt on technical teams, analysts can fill the gap with skills in both design and process configuration. They also focus on reducing rework and on providing solid data governance.

Data integrity. Sensitive data is at the heart of almost every project, and it’s good to have someone on the team who can identify vulnerabilities and take steps to ensure they don’t become an issue. That, in tandem with a business analyst’s understanding of both internal and client processes, is an extremely valuable combination.

Projects. This is one of the business analyst’s most valuable skills. On many project teams, they work with the project manager, acting as a bridge between the manager and the technical team. Their ability to understand both business operations and technical design makes them extremely valuable on project teams.

Business Analyst Skills and Qualities

The skills used by business analysts cover a lot of ground beyond expertise in data collection and analysis. Taking a more big-picture look, business analysts should excel in the following areas.

Communications. All business analyst careers require working with many different people in a multitude of situations that demand excellent communication skills. This includes skills in both writing and speaking, as well as the ability to be a good listener.

Problem-solving. Strip away all the details, and this is the job description for business analysts. They take on business challenges and find solutions.

Critical thinking. Business analysts must consider the options presented through their research and choose the right one before making any recommendations. They are on the frontlines of setting business strategies and need critical-thinking skills to solve often complex problems.

Touro University Worldwide’s Master’s Degree in Business Analytics

Touro University Worldwide’s online Master of Science in Business Analytics prepares students to turn complex data into clear, practical insights for organizations. The program blends statistics, data management, forecasting, and business intelligence, giving students the tools to solve real business problems and support data-driven decision making.

Students can choose a concentration in management or marketing, tailoring their studies to operations, strategy, or customer-focused analytics. Designed for working adults, the online format features eight-week sessions, multiple start dates, and an accelerated path that can be completed in about one year for those taking two courses per term.