Let’s talk about the elephant in the room… Is UX research still worth it going into 2025?
There is a lot of “doom and gloom” out there about the current job market, and there’s even been doubt about the future of UX research as a career.
But I’ve been monitoring the UX research market, and I’ve had my finger on the pulse of the industry for the last few years.
And I’ve come to some interesting conclusions about it.
So in this article, I’ll cover:
- The bad stuff
- The good stuff
- And the future of UX research
We’ll start with…
The Bad Stuff
Let’s get this out of the way first lol.
As a researcher, I like to look at things realistically (what kind of researcher would I be if I didn’t :P).
And the “bad” stuff I see is:
- The job market isn’t what it was a few years ago (like during the tech job boom of 2020)
- The field is more competitive than it used to be (and job requirements tend to be stricter nowadays)
- And there have been quite a few layoffs in the tech industry in the last couple years
This is all true.
And whenever there’s a downturn in the market, there tends to be an overreaction as panic sets in.
So that’s when you start to see “doom and gloom” appear.
There was an article that called it “The UX Research Reckoning” (sounds scary lol).
But the thing that people tend to miss about this is…
It is NOT just UX research that suffered from this.
The entire job market as a whole (especially the tech job market) underwent a downturn.
And there’s no evidence that UX research was disproportionately affected more than any other role.
And despite having witnessed the difficulties of the job market firsthand among people in my network…
I’m actually NOT pessimistic about the state of UX research…
Here’s why…
The Good Stuff
We’re more than halfway through 2024, and there are some GOOD signs that show a promising future for UX research.
There seems to be an uptick in UX research roles being posted, with more UXR positions available compared to 2022.
More companies are hiring UX researchers for the first time, and this segment is growing (according to a “State of User Research” report from userinterviews.com).
And the field is likely to continue bouncing back stronger as the economy recovers. Nielsen Norman Group predicts exponential growth for UX research roles over the next few decades.
So despite the last couple years being tougher than they used to be…
The data shows that the field of UX research is trending in a good direction.
Which brings me to my next point…
The Future of UX Research
From a First Principles perspective, the future of UX research looks bright.
Because the core skillset of a UX researcher is essential.
We’re living in an “Experience Economy.” The biggest brands today don’t just sell products, they sell experiences.
And so the people who know how to discover what matters to users in order to improve their experience (aka, UX researchers)…
Will ALWAYS play a key role in the economy.
There will never be a time when a user’s experience is not important.
And as technology evolves, the need for understanding user experiences will only increase.
That’s why, despite all the “doom and gloom” you might hear out there…
UX research isn’t going away anytime soon.
And even if the job title changes in the future…
UX research is a timeless skillset that will be transferable and valuable regardless of how the industry evolves.
What This Means For You
Whether you’re looking to get into UX research as a career path, or whether you already do UX research in your job…
Now is the best time to further develop your skillset and be prepared.
It IS a high-skill job. But you can learn all the skills you need.
Especially as the economy recovers, the UXRs who thrive in the future will be those who are well-trained on all the necessary skills they need to crush it in their organization.
And that’s why I’m super excited about the launch of the Zero to UX Self-Paced Masterclass.
I created the exact course I wish I had when I got started as a UX researcher.
And I condensed everything I’ve learned in over a decade of research experience…
Into a single course to teach you everything you need to know to become an expert-level UX researcher going into 2025.
So if that’s something you’re interested in learning more about, you can go here to learn about the Self-Paced Masterclass.
Talk soon,
Kevin
P.S. I uploaded a YouTube video recently where I discuss this topic more in depth. So if you haven’t seen it yet, here’s the link: