Demographer
Tasks & duties
Demographers may do some or all of the following:
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examine groups of people and report on their characteristics
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collect and analyse population data
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prepare population and trend forecasts
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examine the effect population change has on society and social policy
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forecast the demand for public services
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study how social and economic change affect family patterns and behaviours
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analyse birth, death, divorce, marriage and age-group figures
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forecast labour force, migration and ethnic population trends
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help businesses predict product and service needs for potential clients
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advise on government policy
Skills & knowledge
Demographers need to have:
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knowledge of current political, economic, social and cultural aspects of New Zealand life
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knowledge of demographic theories, research methods, and information sources
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knowledge of the geography of New Zealand
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excellent research skills, including the ability to analyse and interpret information
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oral and written communication skills, including report writing skills
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people skills
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decision-making skills
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planning and organisational skills
Entry requirements
To become a demographer you need to have a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Social Sciences specialising in demography, human geography, mathematics, economics, or statistics.
Secondary education
A tertiary entrance qualification is required to enter university. Useful subjects include English, maths with statistics, economics and geography.
Training on the job
Skills are often gained on the job. Demographers working in large organisations may receive training in specialised research and analysis techniques.
Useful experience
Useful experience for demographers includes work as a social researcher or economist, or work with statistics or surveys.
Related courses
Human Geography
For more information, please refer to Career Services.
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