UK AI JobsExpected · in use · happened
Grows with AI

Business analyst

75.3K UK workers · typical pay £39,000 · entry route Postgraduate degree (Level 7+). Projected growth of +11% to 2035.

How AI is actually used here · measured · Anthropic Economic Index
56%
Augmentation
AI mostly assists
10.5×
Time compression
~8h → ~46min
2.9/5
AI autonomy
how hands-off it runs
45%
Automation
of measured usage
How the collaboration splits · the six measured modes
task iteration 39.9%directive 34%learning 12.1%feedback loop 9.9%validation 2.8%unclassified 1.3%
What people make with AI here
document / report27%plan / strategy10%analysis / summary9%

Real Claude.ai usage mapped to this occupation's SOC group, Apr+May 2026, CC-BY. Claude users only; task times model-estimated; augment/automate is how AI is used, not a count of jobs lost. Method →

Facts · ONS + NCS
UK workers (2024)
75.3K
Median pay
£39.0K
Our scored call · a labelled hypothesis, not a measurement
AI exposure
8 / 10
Elasticity
7.5 / 10
2035 outlook
+11%
Exposure · 8/10
Why AI can do the work

Business analysts perform digital-first tasks like data analysis, requirement documentation, and process modeling, all of which are highly susceptible to AI automation and augmentation. While the role requires stakeholder communication and human judgment, AI's ability to synthesize complex business needs and generate technical specifications significantly increases individual productivity, potentially reducing the total number of roles needed.

Elasticity · 7.5/10
Whether demand expands when it gets cheaper

Cheaper analysis unlocks a massive backlog of process optimization and digital transformation projects that are currently deemed too expensive to scope.

Trajectory to 2035

Headcount grows +11%, a Jevons-pattern curve.

Adoption scenario
×1.00 · Consensus

Change the scenario in the nav to reshape this curve.

Headcount projection · 2024 → 2035
Baseline 75.3K workers (2024) · % change vs baseline
Peak 2027 +14%2035 +11%
Peak 20272024202620282030203220342035-7%+0%+16%+11%
Peak headcount
2027
+14% vs 2024
2035 endpoint
+11%
83.5K workers
Time to −10%
Never crosses in model
Total wage pool
£2.9B
pay × jobs
Where this role lives

UK employment share by region, SOC-joined to 2431.

London
75.5K · 30.3%
South East
40.1K · 16.1%
West Midlands
21.8K · 8.7%
South West
20.6K · 8.3%
East
16.1K · 6.5%
Scotland
14.8K · 5.9%
North West
14.7K · 5.9%
Yorkshire and The Humber
14.7K · 5.9%
Gender split

Majority-male role (61.6% men).

86.7K women · 38%139.1K men · 62%
slug: business-analyst · dataset 2026.03 · CC-BY-4.0