![[Featured image] A female business analyst interviews a female employee. Both have their laptops in front of them.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/5vfQELyaDvsspcLpsigHEy/ec1810ecd32ac851a47d952a4f5d1e5d/dat_analyst_vs_business_analyst.png?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
Business Analyst vs. Data Analyst: What’s the Difference?
Learn how data analysts and business analysts work with data to drive better business decisions (and find out which might be a better career fit for you).
April 16, 2021
Article
Start Your Business Analyst Career
Business analysts use data to identify ways that businesses can improve efficiency, reduce costs, or strengthen processes. Learn how to get started in this growing career path.
![[Featured Image] A person sitting on the floor at their coffee table studying data analysis on their laptop](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/6VuItc4lzXx9jpsgnEcOc1/ff6a2ee48549a23cd65d5f35f4969d3f/is_data_analytics_hard.png?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured image] A business analyst stands in an office hallway holding a laptop computer as they prepare for a meeting.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/2Ryrw0DOjSsU1LdasXCkil/032bec22303d79aaaf51bf6eda3dd44f/GettyImages-1217242446-used-Google.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
Grow key business analysis skills
Status: Free Trial
University of Pennsylvania
Skills you'll gain: People Analytics, Customer Analysis, Marketing Analytics, Customer Insights, Business Analytics, Financial Statement Analysis, Analytics, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Operational Analysis, Descriptive Analytics, Predictive Analytics, Performance Measurement, Financial Analysis, Peer Review, Workforce Planning, Human Resources Management and Planning, Talent Management, Consumer Behaviour, Data Analysis, Financial Accounting
Status: Preview
Johns Hopkins University
Skills you'll gain: Microsoft Excel, Data Presentation, Operations Research, Regression Analysis, Excel Formulas, Pivot Tables And Charts, Business Analytics, Business Analysis, Business Modeling, Mathematical Modeling, Resource Allocation, Spreadsheet Software, Statistical Methods, Financial Modeling, Productivity Software, Process Optimization, Complex Problem Solving, Transportation Operations
Status: Free Trial
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Skills you'll gain: Data Storytelling, Data Presentation, Marketing Analytics, Data Visualization, Extract, Transform, Load, Data Governance, Business Analytics, Interactive Data Visualization, Alteryx, Business Intelligence, Data Visualization Software, Predictive Modeling, Data Quality, Analytics, Analytical Skills, Exploratory Data Analysis, Data Analysis, Auditing, Power BI, Machine Learning
A business analyst uses data to discover new business insights for a company. They typically focus on improving efficiency and effectiveness, and may work across all areas of business, including IT processes, organizational structure, or supply chain management.
At the entry-level, a business analyst may participate in team efforts to identify and prioritize an organization’s functional and technical needs, use SQL and spreadsheet software to conduct data analysis, and create data visualizations and financial models in order to address crucial business questions.
Similar and adjacent roles include IT business analysts, data analysts, business data analysts, supply chain analysts, and business intelligence analysts.
Learn more about entry-level careers in business analysis:
