underwriters and adjusters, like actuaries, are fairly concentrated in the insurance industry (88.8 percent of underwriters and 71.0 percent of claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators worked in insurance carriers and related activities in 2016).2 also, like actuaries, their core job functions require analytical skills. the 22.5-percent projected growth rate for actuaries, then, is striking, as this far outpaces the growth for underwriters and adjusters, occupations that are projected to decline over the next 10 years.

operations research analysts

operations research analysts are projected to grow 27.4 percent over the next decade, as they benefit from big data.

these workers use advanced mathematical methods to organizations make decisions in a broad range of areas, including production schedules, pricing, and supply chain management. businesses are increasingly looking to these workers to use big data in order to develop products and craft marketing campaigns. the analytical software these analysts use has improved recently, making operations research more affordable, and further increasing demand for these workers. once again, an occupation with highly complex analytical duties has seen its demand for labor increase as a result of advances in technology.

operations research analysts work in a variety of industries, and their tasks differ based on the work setting. in retail, for instance, they improve inventory management by using consumer data to build models that better anticipate individual purchasing decisions. they also use data to monitor pricing at competitors’ stores and advise price adjustments accordingly.6 in healthcare, operations research analysts healthcare providers manage the high demand for their services driven by an aging population and availability of new treatments. these analysts can develop systems that prioritize patient appointments with providers. the increased use of electronic medical records (emrs) will add to the amount of data available to operations research analysts; they can use big data to healthcare providers assess risk and make care plans for patients.7

statisticians

statisticians are projected to grow the fastest of any occupation in this mathematical group, at 33.8 percent from 2016 to 2026.

statisticians will be in demand for their ability to develop and analyze big data. these workers apply statistical theory and methods to collect, interpret, and summarize data. they identify trends and relationships in the data in order to provide usable information. they may specialize in certain industries, such as agricultural statistics, business statistics, or economic statistics. with large amounts of new data sources, statisticians will have an important role in ensuring that accurate sampling techniques are used so that datasets can be reliably analyzed.

the field of data science will be a source of particularly high demand for these workers. data science combines methods from statistics, computer science, engineering, and management. this field aims to build models, make predictions, and recommend actions based on data, rather than just explaining what the data mean. as businesses increasingly look to make decisions with fully formed data analysis and evidence, statisticians who work on actionable predictions will be in high demand.8 statisticians working in this field have a similar role to operations research analysts, but their scope is broader than the operations of a business—they can work on broader strategic issues such as business location and which types of products to sell.

13)
in this passage, the author supports his point by
a) giving examples.
b) voicing concerns.
c) addressing objections.
d) making counterarguments.
14)
which statement best summarizes the central idea of the passage?
a) mathematical science occupations are in demand.
b) mathematical science occupations are fun and rewarding.
c) mathematical science occupations require people with great skills.
d) mathematical science occupations require a moderate amount of schooling.
15)
"however, because it is a small occupation, the fast growth will result in only about 5,300 new jobs over the 10-year period."

from this statement, taken from the first paragraph, it may be inferred that
a) actuaries are seen as a less desirable job.
b) actuaries are seen as a more desirable job.
c) actuarial jobs are less in demand than professions in other fields relating to mathematics.
d) actuarial jobs are more in demand than professions in other fields relating to mathematics.