Operations research analysts make recommendations on how to effectively use, manage, and allocate finances, inventory, equipment, time, and people. In general, they use statistical analysis, simulations, computer modeling, and other similar disciplines to assist management in solving problems and making sound decisions.
Employment Prospects for Operations Research Analysts
In 2009, there were as many as 60,960 employed operations research analysts across the United States. Because the demand for this occupation is not limited to certain industries, those employed were spread across various types of companies and organizations with the highest concentration being within agencies offering management, scientific, and technical consulting services (9%).
About 8% worked within firms offering computer systems design and related services while another 8% held management-level positions within various types of companies and enterprises. Insurance carriers are also among the top employers of operations research analysts, as such companies employed about 7% of the total number of such workers while the government's Federal Executive Branch, mainly the Department of Defense, employed about 6%.
