Demography involves the study of population. Demographer is a scientist who studies the growth and density of populations and their vital statistics. A demographer conducts statistical examinations of the composition, distribution and transition of the human population. Demographers are social scientists who examine population trends to determine what society might look like several years down the road. Demographers can work as anthropologists who rely heavily on demographic studies, or they may work as geographers who study population trends and how these various geographic factors influence these trends.

Demographers might specialize in certain segments of the population, such as the elderly, families in terms of marriage and divorce, or employer/employee trends. They also monitor population patterns, such as causes and consequences of the rise and fall of fertility, mortality rates and migration.

Demographers study the makeup, distribution, and trends of populations. They also make observations about the causes and effects of population changes, such as increases in birth rates or immigration. Demographers collect statistical data, analyze the data to identify any trends, and then predict future trends. These predictions can help governments, social service agencies, and private companies to plan ahead. Demographers are sometimes called population sociologists.

ANZSCO ID & Description: 224113: Designs and applies statistical principles and techniques for collecting, organising and interpreting quantifiable data, and uses statistical methodologies to produce statistical reports and analyses for government, commercial and other purposes.  

Knowledge, Skills and Attributes

• Precision
• Numeracy
• Statistical analysis
• Curiosity – critical perspective on data quality and usage
• Visualisation (including mapping)
• Data transformation
• The cohort approach to analysis
• Longitudinal analysis

(Source: McCrindle)

Duties and Tasks

• Population projections
• Economic, social and environmental impacts
• Input to government budgets (revenue, expenditure)
• Understanding population history of areas and drivers of regional change
• Evidence based policy & program delivery
• Referees in decision making (e.g. grants)
• Data warehouse manager/data extraction
• Communicator and commentator
• Acquisition, compilation, derivation, analysis and reporting of demographic statistics (NSOs & others)

Working conditions

Demographers might work in an office setting, examining collected population data, though they also might have to travel to collect data themselves. Those formally trained in demography may land entry-level jobs in market research, epidemiology or assisting in research for various types of businesses.

Demographers commonly perform fieldwork, such as administering surveys, conducting testing or interviewing subjects. Opportunities are also available in advertising firms, consulting companies and media organizations, since these institutions need information for their targeted demographic groups to customize ad campaigns and products and successfully influence the purchasing decision of consumers.

Demographers have a chance to expand their employment options and work for government agencies, social service providers, health care companies or hospitals, educational institutions and nonprofit organizations. The analysis of population variation and trends influence how private companies launch new businesses or start housing projects and affects how governments establish social, health and environmental services. An individual with advanced training in the use of statistical methods and demographic research offered in a graduate program or acquired through work experience can discover that his or her skills are in demand with public and corporate entities.

Education and training/entrance requirements

Students may choose a major in sociology, political science, anthropology or any other related subdiscipline in the social sciences that provides the coursework essential in the study of demography and prepares one for possible graduate-level study. Typical courses offered in such fields can include population trends, qualitative and quantitative research, statistics, global societies, social problems and cultural behavior. Such programs expose students to various methods of collecting and interpreting demographic data.

 

Related Jobs or Working with these Jobs
(Jobs not linked are currently being worked on)

Anthropologist	Biometrician	Cartographer	Criminologist
Epidemiologist	Geographer	Mathematician	Political Scientist
Sports Development Officer	University Lecturer	University Tutor

Materials sourced from
Jobs & Skills WA [Actuary; ];
Study [Demographer; ]
Career Trend [Demographer;]
Patrick Corr - Director, Demography - ABS