Mathematicians are employed in a wide variety of organisations, departments, businesses. They are often part of a multi-disciplinary team in which their mathematical expertise complements that of others.
But by far the greatest use of mathematics is in specialist applied areas such as mathematical modelling covering a variety of applications from global warming to predicting the survival of endangered species, operations research in business, researach areas related to statistics such as biometrics and econometrics, and disciplines which are highly mathematical, such as meteorology (weather and climate), geophysics, (including the study of earthquakes, volcanoes and related phenomena), and computer science.
Who are the Main Employers?
Government Departments The Treasury manages the public purse, assisting the government to gain the maximum value from public spending. The Reserve Bank manages 'monetary policy' ensuring that we have a stable and efficient financial system. Both employ well-qualified graduates with a minimum of honours in econometrics, economics and financial mathematics.
The Government Communications Security Bureau gathers foreign intelligence and also assists government departments and agencies protect their electronic information resources and communications systems and are therefore critical to the security of New Zealand.
Statistics New Zealand recruit graduates from mathematics, statistics and other maths-based disciplines.The Meteorological Service of New Zealand gathers, analyses and provides weather information for the public and a wide range of domestic and foreign commercial customers. They employ mathematics, statistics, physics and geophysics graduates. Other government departments in which graduates in numerate disciplines are employed are Ministry of Health and the Health Funding Authorities, Ministry of Economic Development, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Social Development and Ministry of Defence.
Graduates with good honours, masters and doctorates in mathematics, operations research and statistics are particularly sought after.
State-Owned Enterprises. State owned enterprises (SOEs) like Transpower, and electricity generators and retailers, employ maths, statistics and operations research graduates and also graduates from other highly numerate disciplines like physics and engineering as financial/business analysts and pricing analysts.
Crown Research Institutes employ graduates with Honours, Masters and PhDs in mathematics, operations research and statistics for mathematical modelling e.g. AgResearch models biological systems such as TB in possums and parasites in sheep; Industrial Research Ltd models the performance of natural materials, new products and manufacturing processes. Ecological modellers are employed at Landcare Research Ltd; seismologists and physicists at the Institute of Geological & Nuclear Sciences. Biometricians are employed at HortResearch, AgResearch and at National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Ltd (NIWA). The Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR) employs biostatisticians, applied mathematicians, chemists and biochemists.
Financial Institutions, including banks, insurance companies, business and management consulting firms employ statisticians, and financial mathematicians in roles such as financial analysts, actuaries, investment advisers, and operations researchers. They target graduates with degrees in mathematics, statistics, operations research, finance, and economics.
Industry and Commerce. Graduates combining mathematics, statistics, operations research, computer science, economics, management and other commerce subjects are in demand. Manufacturing and processing companies and utility suppliers in the telecommunications, electricity, gas and petrochemical industries employ theoretical and applied mathematicians, operations researchers, statisticians and economists.
The IT industry often recruits graduates from maths-related disciplines in addition to graduates from computer science and engineering. A general understanding of mathematics and satistics is valuable in business services, including marketing, market research, accounting, management and communications.
Good mathematical skills are also advantageous in the construction industry. Mathematical calculations play a significant part in the work done by architects, technicians, engineers, quantity surveyors and planners. Applied mathematics is used in all branches of engineering which include: civil, mechanical, electrical and electronic, chemical and process, natural resources, mining and forestry, engineering.
Education. Schools, universities and other educational institutions employ teachers and educators at all levels. Applicants for teacher training with degrees in mathematics, physics and related disciplines are particularly welcomed as there continues to be a shortage of new entrants to the profession in these subject areas.
Skills and Personal Qualities
The skills and qualities listed below are often inherent talents but will be developed and enhanced through the study of mathematics. This is one reason why people who have studied mathematics are in demand.
Numerical confidence - A prime requirement for all mathematical work is to be comfortable with numbers, their relative size and what they express. This includes not just a mechanical approach but an ability to see when numbers make sense and are within the bounds of possibility.
Quantitative skills - Many maths-related jobs require a good sense of quantity and its measurement. The ability to identify and measure quantities and develop or use relationships between the variables that the quantities represent is important.
Problem solving - Mathematicians enjoy the challenge of wrestling with and solving problems, and of applying lateral thinking to finding solutions. Asking "what if?" they often use intuition and creativity to identify possible solutions to a problem. They will then apply their skills in logical thinking and analysis to systematically evaluate the relative merits of each solution.
Computer literacy - Computers are used extensively in all statistical and most other mathematical work, so early familiarity with appropriate and current software is advantageous. Computer science courses should be included in a degree if advanced operations research courses are intended.
Teamwork - Mathematicians are often employed as part of a team, in which different specialists are required to contribute their skills. It is important to be able to work well in a group. Communication and interpersonal skills - Mathematicians who can communicate complex information or ideas to their non-specialist managers, colleagues and clients are very valuable. It is also helpful if they can write reports in clear, jargon-free English.
How Much Maths Do I Need?
Examples of jobs that need advanced mathematics - mathematics teacher, physicist, engineer, chemist, physicist, geophysicist, seismologist, meteorologist, actuary, operations research consultant, computer programmer, investment/funds manager, epidemiologist, communications and information technology specialist.
Examples of jobs that need some university level general mathematics - junior maths teacher, manager, architect, biochemist, accountant.
* Adapted and updated from VUW Career View 22 Mathematics and Statistics June 2002