Statistician

Statistician article illustration

Description

Statisticians collect, tabulate, and, most importantly, analyse quantitative information coming from a varied array of fields. They interpret and analyse statistical studies on fields such as health, demographics, finance, business, etc. and advise based on patterns and drawn analysis.

Here are some typical duties of statisticians:

  • Collaborate with researchers and subject matter experts to design studies and experiments, providing input on the statistical methodologies that will be employed.
  • Oversee data collection through surveys, experiments, observations, or other methods, ensuring the data is accurate, relevant, and collected ethically.
  • Utilize statistical techniques and software to analyze data, identify patterns, trends, and relationships, and draw conclusions from the results.
  • Conduct hypothesis testing to determine the significance of observed effects and validate or refute research hypotheses.
  • Develop and apply statistical models to predict future trends, assess risk, or make inferences about a population based on sample data.
  • Design and implement sampling techniques to ensure that collected data is representative of the larger population.
  • Create clear and effective visual representations of data, such as charts, graphs, and dashboards, to communicate findings to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
  • Implement quality control measures to identify and address issues related to data integrity, outliers, or other anomalies.
  • Provide statistical consultation to researchers, analysts, and decision-makers, helping them interpret and apply statistical findings in their work.
  • Contribute statistical analyses and interpretations to research papers, reports, or publications, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams.
  • Stay updated on advancements in statistical methods, tools, and technologies, and incorporate new methodologies into research practices.
  • Proficiently use statistical software packages such as R, Python, SAS, or SPSS to conduct analyses and generate reports.

Other titles

The following job titles also refer to statistician:

statisticians
statistical researcher
statistic research scientist
statistics research analyst
statistics analyst
statistics specialist
statistics researcher
statistical scientist
statistical research scientist
statistical data analyst
statistical scholar
statistics science researcher
senior statistician
statistical research analyst
statistics research scientist
statistics scholar
statistics scientist
statistical science researcher
statistic research associate

Working conditions

Statisticians work in various sectors, including academia, government agencies, healthcare, finance, and industry. The role may involve a combination of desk work, collaboration with research teams, and presentations to stakeholders.

Minimum qualifications

A bachelor’s degree in statistics, mathematics, or a related field is typically the minimum educational requirement. Many statisticians pursue advanced degrees (master’s or Ph.D.) for specialized roles or advanced research positions. Practical experience gained through internships, research projects, or entry-level positions contributes to the development of statisticians. Strong analytical skills, proficiency in statistical software, and effective communication skills are essential for success in this role. Continuous learning and staying updated on statistical methodologies and tools enhance the effectiveness of statisticians in their field.

ISCO skill level

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

  • the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
  • the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
  • the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Statistician is a Skill level 4 occupation.

Statistician career path

Similar occupations

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to statistician.

biometrician
mathematician
demographer
bioinformatics scientist
astronomer

Essential knowledge and skills

Essential knowledge

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of statistician.

  • Mathematics: Mathematics is the study of topics such as quantity, structure, space, and change. It involves the identification of patterns and the formulation of new conjectures based on them. Mathematicians strive to prove the truth or falsity of these conjectures. There are many fields of mathematics, some of which are widely used for practical applications.
  • Statistics: The study of statistical theory, methods and practices such as collection, organisation, analysis, interpretation and presentation of data. It deals with all aspects of data including the planning of data collection in terms of the design of surveys and experiments in order to forecast and plan work-related activities.
  • Statistical analysis system software: Specific software system (SAS) used for advanced analytics, business intelligence, data management, and predictive analytics.
  • Data quality assessment: The process of revealing data issues using ​quality indicators, measures and metrics in order to plan data cleansing and data enrichment strategies according to data quality criteria.
  • Scientific research methodology: The theoretical methodology used in scientific research involving doing background research, constructing an hypothesis, testing it, analysing data and concluding the results.

Essential skills and competences

These skills are necessary for the role of statistician.

  • Identify statistical patterns: Analyse statistical data in order to find patterns and trends in the data or between variables.
  • Gather data: Extract exportable data from multiple sources.
  • Perform data analysis: Collect data and statistics to test and evaluate in order to generate assertions and pattern predictions, to discover useful information in a decision-making process.
  • Execute analytical mathematical calculations: Apply mathematical methods and make use of calculation technologies in order to perform analyses and devise solutions to specific problems.
  • Apply statistical analysis techniques: Use models (descriptive or inferential statistics) and techniques (data mining or machine learning) for statistical analysis and ICT tools to analyse data, uncover correlations and forecast trends.
  • Think analytically: Produce thoughts using logic and reasoning in order to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
  • Apply scientific methods: Apply scientific methods and techniques to investigate phenomena, by acquiring new knowledge or correcting and integrating previous knowledge.
  • Conduct quantitative research: Execute a systematic empirical investigation of observable phenomena via statistical, mathematical or computational techniques.
  • Process data: Enter information into a data storage and data retrieval system via processes such as scanning, manual keying or electronic data transfer in order to process large amounts of data.

Optional knowledge and skills

Optional knowledge

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of statistician. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

  • Biometrics: The science that statistically analyses human characteristics such as retina, voice or DNA for identification purposes.
  • Algorithms: The self-contained step-by-step sets of operations that carry out calculations, data processing and automated reasoning, usually to solve problems.
  • Market research: The processes, techniques, and purposes comprised in the first step for developing marketing strategies such as the collection of information about customers and the definition of segments and targets.
  • Opinion poll: The inquiry of the opinion of the public, or at least of a representative sample, about a determined subject.
  • Information confidentiality: The mechanisms and regulations which allow for selective access control and guarantee that only authorised parties (people, processes, systems and devices) have access to data, the way to comply with confidential information and the risks of non-compliance.
  • Demography: The scientific field of study that deals with studying the size, structure, and distribution of the human population, and its geographical and temporal changes.
  • Set theory: The subdiscipline of mathematical logic that studies the properties of well-determined sets of objects, relevant to mathematics.

Optional skills and competences

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of statistician. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

  • Write research proposals: Synthetise and write proposals aiming to solve research problems. Draft the proposal baseline and objectives, the estimated budget, risks and impact. Document the advances and new developments on the relevant subject and field of study.
  • Prepare lesson content: Prepare content to be taught in class in accordance with curriculum objectives by drafting exercises, researching up-to-date examples etc.
  • Manage database: Apply database design schemes and models, define data dependencies, use query languages and database management systems (DBMS) to develop and manage databases.
  • Build predictive models: Predictive modeling is the process by which a model is created or chosen to try to best predict the probability of an outcome.
  • Analyse big data: Collect and evaluate numerical data in large quantities, especially for the purpose of identifying patterns between the data.
  • Develop financial statistics reports: Create financial and statistical reports based on collected data which are to be presented to managing bodies of an organisation.
  • Perform scientific research: Gain, correct or improve knowledge about phenomena by using scientific methods and techniques, based on empirical or measurable observations.
  • Conduct public surveys: Conduct the procedures of a public survey from the initial formulation and compilation of the questions, identifying the target audience, managing the survey method and operations, managing the processing of acquired data, and analysing the results.
  • Advise on financial matters: Consult, advise, and propose solutions with regards to financial management such as acquiring new assets, incurring in investments, and tax efficiency methods.
  • Develop scientific theories: Formulate scientific theories based on empirical observations, gathered data and theories of other scientists.
  • Develop statistical software: Participate in the various development stages of computer programs for econometric and statistical analysis, such as research, new product development, prototyping, and maintenance.
  • Carry out statistical forecasts: Undertake a systematic statistical examination of data representing past observed behaviour of the system to be forecast, including observations of useful predictors outside the system.
  • Write scientific papers: Present the hypothesis, findings, and conclusions of your scientific research in your field of expertise in a professional publication.
  • Deliver visual presentation of data: Create visual representations of data such as charts or diagrams for easier understanding.
  • Present reports: Display results, statistics and conclusions to an audience in a transparent and straightforward way.
  • Provide lesson materials: Ensure that the necessary materials for teaching a class, such as visual aids, are prepared, up-to-date, and present in the instruction space.
  • Assist scientific research: Assist engineers or scientists with conducting experiments, performing analysis, developing new products or processes, constructing theory, and quality control.
  • Advise on legislative acts: Advise officials in a legislature on the propositioning of new bills and the consideration of items of legislation.
  • Design questionnaires: Study the research objectives and imprint those aims into the design and development of questionnaires.
  • Plan research process: Outline the research methodologies and schedule in order to ensure that the research can be thoroughly and efficiently executed and that the objectives can be met in a timely manner.

ISCO group and title

2120 – Mathematicians, actuaries and statisticians


References
  1. Statistician – ESCO
  2. Statistician job profile | Prospects.ac.uk
  3. Statistician Job Description – Indeed.com
  4. Featured image: Photo by Chris Liverani on Unsplash
Last updated on February 2, 2024