GITNUX MARKETDATA REPORT 2024

User Research Industry Statistics

User research industry is expected to continue growing as organizations increasingly value understanding and meeting the needs of their users.

Last Updated: June 22, 2024

Written & Summarized by: Jannik Lindner

How we write

In this post, we will explore key statistics and insights on the user research industry. From the prevalence of user research in Fortune 500 companies to the trends in job postings and industry investments, these statistics shed light on the vital role user research plays in shaping successful design and development processes. Let’s dive into the data to uncover the current landscape of user research practices and trends.

Statistic 1

"Over 90% of Fortune 500 companies regularly conduct user research."

Statistic 2

"68% of User Researchers work in-house, as opposed to working in an agency or freelancing."

Statistic 3

"Over half (56%) of user researchers have been in the field for less than 5 years."

Statistic 4

"43% of user researchers work in companies with over 500 employees."

Statistic 5

"The majority of user researchers (41%) have a background in Social Science."

Statistic 6

"12.64% of businesses conduct user research before beginning any new project or feature."

Statistic 7

"Only 3.9% of companies conduct constant user research, with the majority conducting research for specific projects only."

Statistic 8

"45.5% of UX design teams have a dedicated user researcher."

Statistic 9

"52% of User Research professionals conduct remote user testing."

Statistic 10

"In the US, there's been a 22% rise in job postings related to UX research from 2019 to 2020."

Statistic 11

"80% of major industry companies value user research as a critical stage in design and development."

Statistic 12

"Major companies like Microsoft & Google employ hundreds of UX researchers."

Statistic 13

"Only 25% of mobile app developers conduct user testing before launching."

Statistic 14

"The US companies spend an average of $2 million on user research annually."

Statistic 15

"There was a 30% increase in LinkedIn job titles containing “UX” or “User Research” between 2017 and 2018."

Statistic 16

"Up to 40% of UX Research studies lead directly to changes in product design."

User research plays a crucial role in the success of companies, with a significant portion of Fortune 500 companies regularly engaging in user research activities. The majority of user researchers are relatively new to the field, with over half having less than 5 years of experience. It is notable that a high percentage of user researchers work in-house and have a background in Social Science. While there is a growing recognition of the importance of user research, there is still room for improvement in terms of continuous research practices and user testing before product launches. The rise in job postings related to UX research and the substantial investments made by companies in user research further emphasize its value in the industry.

Jannik Lindner

Jannik is the Co-Founder of Gitnux and has been working in the digital space since 2016. He is specialized in content and tech.

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