What do statisticians do?

Statisticians help determine the sampling and data collection methods, monitor the execution of the study and the processing of data, and advise on the strengths and limitations of the results. They must understand the nature of uncertainties and be able to draw conclusions in the context of particular statistical applications.

Surveys: Survey statisticians collect information from a carefully specified sample and extend the results to an entire population. Sample surveys might be used to:

* Determine which political candidate is more popular
* Discover what foods teenagers prefer for breakfast
* Estimate the number of children living in a given school district

Government Operations: Government statisticians conduct experiments to aid in the development of public policy and social programs. Such include:

* Consumer prices
* Fluctuations in the economy
* Employment patterns
* Population trends

Scientific Research: Statistical sciences are used to enhance the validity of inferences in: 

* Radiocarbon dating to estimate the risk of earthquakes
* Clinical trials to investigate the effectiveness of new treatments
* Field experiments to evaluate irrigation methods
* Measurements of water quality
* Psychological tests to study how we reach everyday decisions in our lives

In Business And Industry: Statisticians quantify unknowns in order to optimize resources. They: 

* Predict the demand for products and services
* Check the quality of items manufactured in a facility
* Manage investment portfolios
* Forecast how much risk activities entail, and calculate fair and competitive insurance rates

Employment Prospects 

* The demand for statisticians is currently high and is growing.

* According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook, published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of non-academic jobs for statisticians is expected to increase through 2008.

* Furthermore, colleges and universities will be hiring more and more faculty members in statistical fields. Salaries and opportunities for advancement are competitive and reflect the current demand.

Careers in Statistics: Business and Industry 

"I love that statistics is very multi-disciplinary. It involves problem solving in a group environment and it involves many skills and talents. I love the ability to be a mathematician, computer scientist, teacher, quizmaster, sleuth, and devil's advocate all rolled into one." -Linda Quinn, Private Industrial Consultant Insurance 

Actuarial statisticians work in all aspects of insurance, including pension plans, life tables, risk assessment, customer retention, and operations management. They assist in financial decisions regarding interest, annuities, mortgages, and bonds, and help determine pricing and product design for the firm. Analysts in the insurance industry are educated in a variety of disciplines, including statistics, finance, economics, business, mathematics, and computer science. 

Engineering

Engineers work in a range of industries, including electronics, chemicals, aerospace, pollution control, and construction. They may be responsible for leading large projects with significant costs, technical complexity, and responsibility. Statistical methods allow engineers to make a consistent product, detect problems early, minimize chemical waste, and predict product life.

Writing

Science writers are employed by the mass media, universities, and corporations to produce news briefs, articles, news releases, and other reports. Writers with scientific backgrounds are especially in demand because of their ability to explain complicated statistical or scientific data in easy-to-understand articles for nonstatisticians and the general public. 

Finance

Financial statisticians build models that help an organization avoid risk and exploit opportunities. Statisticians build prediction models from historic business or economic information. Financial statisticians also work in the areas of consumer credit and fraud detection. Use of these models in decision-making sharpens our understanding of the world we live in and improves our quality of life. 

Marketing 

Statistics is used to quantify the extent of variation in customers' needs and wants. Statisticians design experiments for new products, conduct focus groups and sample surveys to gather consumer feedback, and perform field experiments in test markets to determine product viability. Statistics and data mining are also used to analyze sales data and predict future trends.

Manufacturing 

Industrial statisticians help build products and deliver services that satisfy customers and increase the company's market share and profitability. Statisticians help design the best possible product, guide the transition from design to manufacturing, ensure a consistently excellent product, help manage customer satisfaction, and ensure a financially beneficial bottom-line. Industry professionals use statistical methods for quality control in nearly all manufactured goods.

Careers in Statistics

Statistics

The world is becoming more and more quantitative and data focused. Many professions depend on numerical measurements to make decisions in the face of uncertainty. Statisticians use quantitative abilities, statistical knowledge, and communication skills to work on many challenging problems, such as: 

* Estimating the safety and studying the economics of nuclear power plants and alternative energy sources (at a utility company, research laboratory, the Nuclear Regulatory commission, or the Department of Energy)

* Evaluating the environmental impact of air, water, and soil pollutants (at a research laboratory, commercial environmental clean-up firm, or the Environmental Protection Agency)

* Designing and analyzing studies to determine if new drugs and medical devices are safe and effective (at a pharmaceutical company, medical research center, or the Food and Drug Administration)

* Estimating the unemployment rate in the United States (at the Bureau of Labor Statistics)

* Analyzing consumer demand for products and services (at a consumer marketing firm, corporation, or consulting firm)

* Designing studies for and analyzing data from agricultural experiments to increase productivity and yield (at an agricultural college or agribusiness corporation)

* Helping scientists and future scientists collect and analyze data to create information and develop new statistical methodology (at a university statistics, mathematics, biostatistics, business, ecology, or psychology department) 

Job Characteristics

1. Use data to solve problems in a wide variety of fields
2. Apply mathematical and statistical knowledge to social, economic, medical, political, and ecological problems
3. Work individually and/or as part of an interdisciplinary team
4. Travel to consult with other professionals or to attend conferences, seminars, and continuing education activities
5. Advance the frontiers of statistics, mathematics, and probability through education and research
6. If you enjoy any of these, a career in statistics may be right for you!

From the website of University of Michigan.