Most commonly reported Work Activities

• Interacting With Computers Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Analysing Data or Information Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
• Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
• Processing Information Compiling, coding, categorising, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
• Provide Consultation and Advice to Others Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
• Thinking Creatively Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.

The Work

Statisticians collect, analyse and interpret numerical data. Their results can help others to make informed decisions, create policies, or comment on aspects of modern life.  
 
Many statisticians work in central or local government departments, using statistical information to help make policies, and provide advice to the public. Results from the Central Statistics Office are often used in the media. Senior government statisticians work closely with ministers.  
 
Statisticians often work in teams, collecting and analysing data from a variety of sources. They have to be aware of bias in the methods they use to collect or explain data. Bias can occur unintentionally, perhaps if a factor is left out; this distorts the results. In a survey, questions asked can be vague or ambiguous.  
 
There is always the danger that statistics can be interpreted in different ways, especially by opposing political parties. For example, statisticians working in the Central Statistics Office collect and publish unemployment figures. They may have to explain their methods and results to ministers, journalists and industry analysts.  
 
There are also many statisticians in industry, business and commerce. In pharmaceutical companies, they plan and analyse reports on clinical trials of new drugs. In manufacturing industries, statisticians have a vital role in quality management. They also help to predict demand and target products at a particular market.
 
In the financial sector, they may specialise in risk analysis for businesses, for example, producing accident statistics for companies.  
 
Also Statisticians are widely used in sport today to calculate possession time, speed, accuracy and error information.

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Analyse and interpret statistical data to identify significant differences in relationships among sources of information.
• Identify relationships and trends in data, as well as any factors that could affect the results of research.
• Determine whether statistical methods are appropriate, based on user needs or research questions of interest.
• Prepare data for processing by organising information, checking for inaccuracies, and adjusting and weighting the raw data.
• Present statistical and nonstatistical results, using charts, bullets, and graphs, in meetings or conferences to audiences such as clients, peers, and students.
• Report results of statistical analyses, including information in the form of graphs, charts, and tables.
• Design research projects that apply valid scientific techniques, and use information obtained from baselines or historical data to structure uncompromised and efficient analyses.
• Process large amounts of data for statistical modeling and graphic analysis, using computers.
• Adapt statistical methods to solve specific problems in many fields, such as economics, biology, and engineering.
• Evaluate the statistical methods and procedures used to obtain data to ensure validity, applicability, efficiency, and accuracy.

Further Information

• Statistician / Statistician EU - from: N.C.S. [UK]
• Statistician / Statistician EU - from: N.C.S. [UK]
• Statistician / Statistician EU - from: GradIreland

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

Administrative

Administrative people are interested in work that offers security and a sense of being part of a larger process. They may be at their most productive under supervisors who give clear guidelines and while performing routine tasks in a methodical and reliable way.

They tend to enjoy clerical and most forms of office work, where they perform essential administrative duties. They often form the backbone of large and small organisations alike. They may enjoy being in charge of office filing systems, and using computers and other office equipment to keep things running smoothly. They usually like routine work hours and prefer comfortable indoor workplaces.

Investigative

The Investigative person will usually find a particular area of science to be of interest. They are inclined toward intellectual and analytical activities and enjoy observation and theory. They may prefer thought to action, and enjoy the challenge of solving problems with sophiscticated technology. These types prefer mentally stimulating environments and often pay close attention to developments in their chosen field.

To become a Statistician a student must have a primary and/or a postgraduate degree with a high statistical content. The primary degree is usually either a B.A. or B.Sc. with Statistics as a major subject. Relevant courses are available in educational institutions throughout Ireland. 

-Higher Education CAO Entry NFQ Level 8 Search CAO courses

Some employers may support secondment or part-time study for postgraduate training.  
 
To become a Statistician with the EU institutions:

You must have:

• a good command of at least 2 European languages (one of which must be English, French or German)

To join at administrator-level, you must have:

• a degree in statistics, economics, mathematics or a related discipline (or be graduating in the current year) for entry at Grade AD 5
• several years’ relevant experience, to join us at a more senior level (Grade AD 7) EU Career Grades

To join at assistant-level you must have either:

• post-secondary education in an appropriate subject and at least 3 years' relevant professional experience, or
• secondary education and at least 6 years' relevant professional experience

Selection procedure

Statistics is often one of the fields included in the EU annual graduate selection procedure launched in spring each year, and/or the EU Assistant selection procedure, launched towards the end of the year annually.

Check EU Career Job opportunities for announcements about application deadlines. Find out more about the EU Careers selection procedure here. You may also find the sample tests area useful.

Last Updated: April, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €57k - €100k

Basic monthly permanent official salaries range from around €2,300 per month for a newly recruited Assistant-Secretary (AST/SC 1) official, €4500 for an entry level graduate administrator grade (AD 5) and up to €16,000 per month for a limited number of top level Administrators (AD 16) at Director-General level. Each grade is broken up into five seniority steps with corresponding salary increases. Basic salaries are adjusted annually in line with inflation and purchasing power in the EU countries.

Data Source(s):
EU Salary Scales

Last Updated: August, 2024

* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.

View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

The changes in classification as a result of the introduction of the new Labour Force Survey in 2017 are partly responsible for the strong employment growth rate for this occupation, although employment also grew strongly between 2019 and 2020, and continued to grow in 2022. Those employed are primarily female (69%), working full-time (90%), and over half (55%) held third-level qualifications. With a higher than average share of persons employed aged 55 years and older (31% compared to 19% for all occupations), replacement demand is likely to result in opportunities opening up for these roles even if employment growth slows.

There was a significant number of vacancies advertised online for clerical officer roles across the civil service and Government administration roles. However, recent job hires for 2022 far exceeded employment growth indicating that job churn is a feature of this occupation. While job openings are set to continue, upskilling and reskilling may also be required for those already employed in these occupations in order to reach targets set out in the Civil Service Renewal Plan 2024 in areas such as in digital skills.

Actuaries, economists & statisticians; other business profs.

The strong employment growth for this occupation can be attributed in large part to changes in the LFS methodology in 2017, although employment has increased annually since then, albeit in small numbers. The public administration and defence sector accounted for the largest share of employment at approximately two-fifths. Employment permits issued in 2022 were primarily in the financial activities and ICT sectors in roles including actuaries, data scientists and risk analysts. The Recruitment Agency Survey cited vacancies for data scientist engineers and actuaries as difficult-tofill. While demand exists for these roles, the numbers involved are likely to be small.

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• Statistical and Social Inquiry Society of Ireland

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• Central Statistics Office, (CSO)

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