U.S. Market Research Industry: Size, Growth & High-Value Recruitment
The $36.8B U.S. market research industry is accelerating with AI adoption and mobile-first methodologies. Learn how brands recruit verified, high-value participants.
# U.S. Market Research Industry: Size, Growth & High-Value Recruitment
The U.S. market research industry reached $36.8 billion in 2025, representing a critical pillar of corporate decision-making. Understanding this market's trajectory and recruitment dynamics is essential for brands seeking reliable consumer insights.
Industry Size and Growth Trajectory
The U.S. holds 55% of total market research market share, cementing its position as the global leader. The market grew 3.0% in 2025 and is projected at $37.7 billion in 2026.
On a global scale, the market research industry is projected to reach approximately $150 billion in 2026, continuing strong growth from $140 billion in 2024. Employment of market research analysts is projected to grow 7 percent from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations, signaling sustained demand for research expertise.
Digital Transformation and Methodology Shift
The industry is undergoing rapid digitalization. Online surveys rank as the most used quantitative method among market research professionals with 85% of respondents who say they use this method regularly. Mobile adoption is accelerating: in the U.S., 51.5% of survey responses came from mobile versus 47.3% non-mobile in Q3 2024, marking the first time mobile overtook desktop.
83% of professionals plan to invest in AI for research in 2025, with 47% already using it regularly, and AI-moderated interviews generate 4.5x more insightful responses than traditional surveys.
Recruiting High-Value Participants: Industry Best Practices
Effective participant recruitment separates reliable research from noise. Well-executed participant recruitment is essential to reliable market research, requiring high-quality respondents who give honest and thorough responses.
Screening and Qualification
Brands work with research partners to set parameters like annual income, buyer motivations, and pain points, and defining this at the outset ensures the pool includes only high-quality respondents. If research participant selection is too broad, bots and insincere respondents may be included; if too narrow, high-quality respondents may be excluded.