Statistics

Job options

Jobs directly related to your degree include:

• Actuary
• Civil Service fast streamer
• Data analyst
• Data scientist
• Financial risk analyst
• Market researcher
• Operational researcher
• Social researcher
• Statistician

Jobs where your degree would be useful include:

• Academic researcher
• Business analyst
• Chartered accountant
• Economist
• Financial manager
• Financial trader
• Geographical information systems officer
• Insurance underwriter
• Investment analyst
• Machine learning engineer
• Research scientist (maths)
• Risk manager
• Tax adviser

Remember that many employers accept applications from graduates with any degree subject, so don't restrict your thinking to the jobs listed here.

Work experience

Some statistics degrees offer an optional placement year, giving you the opportunity to gain practical experience with an employer. If your course doesn't include one, look for summer internships, placements and other work experience opportunities.

The Government Statistical Service offers summer placements for undergraduate students and sandwich placements for students whose degree requires a placement year. These provide the opportunity to work on real statistical projects and gain experience in areas such as data collection, analysis and presentation.

You can also find internships and work experience opportunities in sectors including:

• banking and financial services
• government
• healthcare and pharmaceuticals
• insurance
• market and operational research
• technology and data science.

It's also useful to join the Royal Statistical Society (RSS) for free as a student and get involved with the Young Statisticians to network, attend events and learn more about careers in statistics.

Although statistics-related work experience is particularly useful, any work or voluntary experience that develops your communication, problem-solving and teamworking skills is valuable.

Search for placements and find out more about work experience and internships.

Typical employers

Statistics graduates work across a range of sectors. Government is a major employer, with opportunities across departments and agencies through the Government Analysis Function. The Civil Service Fast Stream Government Statistical Service Scheme is one route into government statistics, while the Office for National Statistics (ONS) is also a key employer.

Other typical employers include:

• banking, investment and insurance companies
• business and management consultancies
• healthcare and pharmaceutical organisations
• market research and research organisations
• retail and consumer businesses
• technology, software and telecommunications companies
• universities and other education organisations.

You can find information on employers in accountancy, banking and finance, business, consulting and management, public services and administration and other job sectors.

Skills for your CV

A degree in statistics equips you with strong data analysis and data handling skills, as you learn to collect, analyse, interpret and present data, as well as undertake project work.

Key subject-specific skills that are valuable in a range of careers include:

• applying abstract mathematical concepts to practical problems
• interpreting results, drawing conclusions and making recommendations based on data
• statistical modelling and data visualisation
• applying statistical and quantitative methods to real-world problems
• using statistical software and, depending on your course, programming languages such as R or Python.

You also develop transferable skills that employers value across a range of roles and sectors, including:

• attention to detail
• organisation and planning
• problem solving and logical thinking
• teamwork
• time management
• written and verbal communication.

Further study

Postgraduate study can be useful for some statistics careers and is required for certain specialist roles. Relevant Masters subjects include:

• applied or medical statistics
• data science
• operational research
• statistics.

The RSS accredits some undergraduate and Masters courses. Graduates of accredited courses who meet the relevant conditions can apply for Graduate Statistician (GradStat) status, although graduates of non-accredited courses may also be eligible.

A PhD is usually required for an academic research career and may be preferred for some pharmaceutical statistics roles.

You can also take short courses and continuing professional development to develop specialist skills. Careers in areas such as actuarial work and accountancy require further professional qualifications, usually completed alongside employment.

For more information on further study and to find a course that interests you, see Masters degrees and search for postgraduate courses in statistics.

What do statistics graduates do?

Actuaries, economists and statisticians (16%) are the most popular occupations for statistics graduates. Also among the top five most popular jobs:

• data analysts (9%)
• finance and investment analysts and advisers (8%)
• programmers and software development professionals (8%)
• secondary education teaching professionals (4%).

For a detailed breakdown of what statistics graduates are doing after graduation, see What do graduates do?

Graduate Outcomes survey data from HESA.