Top Business Analyst Skills Required in 2025

Understanding what a business analyst is and the skills they need is essential for anyone considering a career as a business analyst or looking to advance their career in this dynamic field.

That’s why we’ve conducted an in-depth analysis of over 3,819 business analyst job postings to identify the most in-demand business analyst skills and tools employers are actively seeking in 2025.

Top 12 Business Analyst Skills Required Globally

Our analysis of job postings reveals clear patterns in employer requirements. The following business analyst skills and tools were most frequently mentioned across business analyst job descriptions, highlighting the skills required to be a successful business analyst in today’s data-driven market.

Microsoft Excel – Mentions: 523

Microsoft Excel is a spreadsheet program that enables business analysts to organise, analyse, and visualise data through formulas, functions, pivot tables, and charts, serving as a fundamental tool for data manipulation and reporting.

Microsoft Excel appears in approximately 33.2% of all business analyst job listings analysed, making it the most essential technical skill in the field. Employers particularly value Excel proficiency because it enables:

• Data cleansing and transformation
• Complex financial modelling and forecasting
• Pivot table creation for multidimensional analysis
• Advanced formula development for automated calculations
• Dashboard creation with charts and visualisations

SQL- Mentions: 436

SQL – Mentions: 436

SQL (Structured Query Language) is a standardised programming language used to manage and manipulate relational databases, enabling business analysts to extract, filter, and analyse large datasets directly from organisational databases.

SQL expertise appears in approximately 27.6% of job listings. This skill enables business analysts to:

• Query databases to extract relevant business data
• Join multiple data sources for comprehensive analysis
• Create complex aggregations and calculations
• Automate reporting processes
• Validate data quality and integrity

Power BI – Mentions: 319

Power BI is Microsoft’s business analytics solution that enables business analysts to visualise data, share insights across organisations, and embed them in apps or websites through interactive dashboards and reports. Power BI skills are mentioned in 20.2% of job postings. Employers value Power BI expertise for:

• Creating interactive dashboards and reports
• Connecting to multiple data sources seamlessly
• Real-time data monitoring and alerts
• Self-service analytics capabilities
• Mobile-friendly report distribution

Agile Methodologies – Mentions: 216

Agile Methodologies encompass iterative approaches to project management and software development that help teams deliver value to customers faster through incremental delivery and continuous feedback.

Appearing in approximately 13.7% of job listings, Agile skills highlight the evolving role of business analysts in modern, fast-paced environments. This competency is particularly important for IT business analyst skills and includes:

• Facilitating sprint planning and retrospectives
• Writing and refining user stories
• Managing product backlogs
• Collaborating in cross-functional teams
• Adapting to changing business requirements

Tableau – Mentions: 209

Tableau is a powerful data visualisation tool that helps business analysts create interactive and shareable dashboards, transforming raw data into easily understandable visual insights.

Tableau proficiency appears in 13.3% of job listings, demonstrating the importance of advanced data visualisation capabilities. This skill enables:

• Creating compelling visual stories with data
• Building interactive dashboards for stakeholders
• Performing advanced analytics and calculations
• Integrating with various data sources
• Enabling self-service analytics for business users

Python – Mentions: 158

Python is a versatile programming language increasingly used by business analysts for data analysis, automation, and machine learning applications, offering powerful libraries for statistical analysis and data manipulation.

Python skills appear in 10.0% of job postings, reflecting the growing convergence of business analysis and data science. Employers value Python proficiency for:

• Automating repetitive data processing tasks
• Performing advanced statistical analysis
• Building predictive models
• Web scraping for data collection
• Creating custom analytics solutions

Jira – Mentions: 145

Jira is a project management and issue tracking tool developed by Atlassian, widely used in Agile environments to plan, track, and manage software development projects and business processes.

Jira expertise appears in 9.2% of job listings, particularly in technology-focused organisations. This skill encompasses:

• Managing project workflows and sprints
• Tracking issues and requirements
• Creating and maintaining project documentation
• Facilitating team collaboration
• Generating project status reports

Project Management – Mentions: 112

Project Management involves planning, executing, and overseeing projects to ensure they are completed on time, within budget, and meet stakeholder requirements, a crucial skill for business analysts leading initiatives. Mentioned in approximately 7.1% of job listings, project management skills underscore the leadership aspects of modern business analyst roles. This includes:

• Defining project scope and objectives
• Creating project timelines and milestones
• Managing stakeholder expectations
• Risk assessment and mitigation
• Resource allocation and budget management

Confluence – Mentions: 89

Confluence is a collaborative workspace platform by Atlassian that helps teams organise and share knowledge, documentation, and project information in a centralised location.

Confluence skills appear in 5.6% of job listings, highlighting the importance of documentation and knowledge management. This tool enables:

• Creating comprehensive project documentation
• Maintaining requirements repositories
• Facilitating team collaboration
• Building knowledge bases
• Integrating with other Atlassian tools

Data Visualisation – Mentions: 84

Data visualisation is the practice of translating complex data sets into visual representations such as charts, graphs, and dashboards to make information more accessible and actionable for decision-makers.

Data visualisation skills appear in 5.3% of job listings, emphasising the importance of visual communication in business analysis. This competency includes:

• Selecting appropriate chart types for different data
• Designing intuitive dashboard layouts
• Creating compelling data stories
• Ensuring accessibility and clarity
• Following visualisation best practices

Business Analysis – Mentions: 75

Business Analysis is the practice of identifying business needs, determining solutions to business problems, and facilitating change within organisations through systematic evaluation of processes, systems, and strategies.

Core business analysis skills appear in 4.8% of job listings, representing the foundational competencies of the profession. This includes:

• Requirements elicitation and documentation
• Process modelling and improvement
• Stakeholder analysis and management
• Solution assessment and validation
• Change management facilitation

PowerPoint – Mentions: 71

Microsoft PowerPoint is a presentation software used to create professional slideshows that combine text, images, charts, and multimedia to effectively communicate business insights and recommendations.

PowerPoint proficiency appears in 4.5% of job listings, highlighting the importance of presentation skills. Business analysts use PowerPoint for:

• Creating executive-level presentations
• Visualising complex business cases
• Presenting analysis findings and recommendations
• Building training materials
• Facilitating stakeholder meetings

Developing Your Business Analyst Skills Portfolio for the Global Market

To maximise employability in the global business analyst sector, consider these strategic approaches:

Certification and Formal Training

Many of the top business analyst skills identified in our research have associated certification programs. Employers often look favorably upon formal qualifications such as:

• Microsoft Business Analyst Professional Certificate (with 50% voucher for PL-900 exam)
• Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst Certification (PL-300)
• Tableau Desktop Specialist Certification
• Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP)
• PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)
• Agile Analysis Certification (AAC)

These certifications can help you meet business analyst qualifications and demonstrate your commitment to professional development.

Practical Application and Portfolio Development

Beyond certification, practical demonstration of skills through:

• Real-world case studies with measurable business impact
• Interactive dashboards showcasing data visualisation skills
• Documentation samples demonstrating clear communication
• Process improvement projects with quantified results
• Open-source contributions or personal analytics projects

Developing a portfolio that showcases these practical applications is crucial for becoming a business analyst and demonstrating your business analytical skills.

Join Professional Organizations

Professional organizations provide invaluable networking and development opportunities. Consider joining:

• International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA)
• Project Management Institute (PMI)
• Data Science communities
• Local business analyst meetups and forums

These connections often lead to mentorship opportunities, knowledge sharing, and career advancement.

Industry-Specific Skills Breakdown

Understanding which skills are most valued in different industries can help you tailor your learning path. Based on our analysis of 3,819 job postings, here’s how business analyst skills align with major sectors:

• Financial Services: SQL, Excel, Python, Power BI, Project Management
• Technology: Jira, Confluence, Agile, SQL, Python, Tableau
• Healthcare: Excel, SQL, Tableau, Power BI, Business Analysis
• Retail/E-commerce: SQL, Excel, Tableau, Python, Data Visualization
• Consulting: PowerPoint, Excel, Power BI, Project Management, Business Analysis
• Manufacturing: Excel, SQL, Power BI, Project Management, Process Modeling

Business Analyst Soft Skills

In addition to technical proficiencies, business analyst soft skills are crucial for success in the field. These include:

• Time management
• Adaptability
• Problem-solving
• Decision-making
• Stakeholder management
• Negotiation skills
• Communication
• Critical thinking

Developing these soft skills alongside technical abilities will enhance your overall business analyst skillset.

Find out more about the Top Data Analyst Skills required in 2025

Conclusion

The business analyst landscape in 2025 demands a unique blend of technical proficiency and business acumen. With business analysis jobs projected to increase by 14% from 2018 to 2028—9% higher than the average growth rate for all occupations—the field offers excellent career prospects for those with the right skills.

By focusing on in-demand tools like Excel, SQL, and Power BI, while developing complementary skills in visualization, project management, and agile methodologies, aspiring business analysts can position themselves for success. Remember that the most successful business analysts combine technical capabilities with strong communication skills and business understanding.

The key to standing out in this competitive field is not just mastering individual tools, but understanding how to leverage them together to deliver actionable business insights that drive organizational success. Continuous learning and adaptation to new technologies and methodologies, such as ERP systems and advanced programming languages, will be crucial for long-term success in the field.

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