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Statistician

Do you want to become a Statistician? Here is some information to help point you in the right direction:

Job Description - Print Page

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Statisticians carry out some or all of the following tasks:

• discussing projects with clients to decide what data should be collected and how this should be done
• gathering data or instructing others how to do it
• examining the data
• interpreting the results to find patterns and come to conclusions
• presenting findings to clients.

They are office based and work standard hours. There may be some travel.

Salaries range from £15,000 to £48,000.

Statisticians should have:

• a high level of mathematical ability
• skills in collecting, analysing and interpreting data
• a methodical and logical approach
• IT skills
• planning and organising ability
• good communication skills.

The Government Statistical Service (GSS) is the largest employer of statisticians in the UK. They are also employed in manufacturing industries (particularly pharmaceuticals), health organisations, research councils and national bodies such as Oftel and Ofwat. There are opportunities to work abroad.

The demand for statisticians is high and growing.

Degree courses in statistics are available at colleges and universities throughout the UK. Statistics can be studied on its own or with other subjects such as maths, economics or computer science.

Adults may be promoted from clerical posts in statistical work. They may take Royal Statistical Society qualifications by part-time study.

In the GSS, training is mainly on the job. New recruits get experience working on projects under the supervision of experienced staff until able to work alone.

Internal promotion may be limited outside government departments.

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