The Visibility of Statistics as a Discipline

Statistics in this country lacks identity and visibility and has not developed into an accepted discipline for historical and other reasons.Nevertheless, a recent projection predicts that the demand for statisticians will far exceed the supply for the years 1978.1990, making statistics one of the few disciplines in which a shortage of trained personnel is forecast.This demand presents the profession with an opportunity to become more visible, by training statisticians in increasing numbers at all levels to fill these job openings.Recruitment problems for statistics majors at all levels will also be solved by simply spreading the word of projected job openings.Two steps are required: (a) Statistics in colleges and universities must become a full-service department that provides undergraduate and graduate degree programs and that offers courses at all levels for various constituencies, and (b) the role of statistics, its usefulness, and the growing availability of degree holders at various levels must be advertised to industry.