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Economists

In the Economists occupation, workers conduct research, prepare reports, or formulate plans to address economic problems related to the production and distribution of goods and services or monetary and fiscal policy. The job can ask you to study economic and statistical data in area of specialization, such as finance, labor, or agriculture. With a code of ICE, this is mostly a job for people drawn to research, analysis and working through hard problems. Conventional interests also help, rated 4.5 out of 7. Plan on graduate school and often five years or more of related experience; O*NET labels this extensive preparation. Strength in reading comprehension, mathematics, and critical thinking helps most here. People who want research, analysis and working through hard problems usually fit better here than those who need hands-on work with tools, machines or the physical world.

What they do

Conduct research, prepare reports, or formulate plans to address economic problems related to the production and distribution of goods and services or monetary and fiscal policy. May collect and process economic and statistical data using sampling techniques and econometric methods.

Main tasks

  • Study economic and statistical data in area of specialization, such as finance, labor, or agriculture.
  • Compile, analyze, and report data to explain economic phenomena and forecast market trends, applying mathematical models and statistical techniques.
  • Study the socioeconomic impacts of new public policies, such as proposed legislation, taxes, services, and regulations.
  • Explain economic impact of policies to the public.
  • Review documents written by others.
  • Provide advice and consultation on economic relationships to businesses, public and private agencies, and other employers.

Skills

  • Reading Comprehension
  • Mathematics
  • Critical Thinking
  • Writing
  • Speaking
  • Judgment and Decision Making

Who this career fits

May suit you if

  • You enjoy working out why something happens, not just what happened.
  • You like clear rules and getting the details right.
  • You are prepared for graduate-level study and a long training path.
  • You are comfortable relying on reading comprehension and mathematics.

May not suit you if

  • You lose interest when a job asks for long stretches of analysis.
  • You want to work with your hands for most of the day. Realistic rates 1.4 out of 7 here.
  • You want to be working in the field within the next few years.

Interest profile

O*NET rates each occupation from 1 to 7 on six interest types. The code ICE takes the three highest, and Investigative comes first here.

Preparation

Extensive preparation. Many jobs here need graduate study, and people often spend five years or more building specialist experience.

Most-reported requirement in the O*NET survey: Master's Degree. This reflects what workers reported most often and is not a legal minimum. Licensing rules can differ by state or industry, so confirm what applies where you plan to work.

Also called

  • Economic Advisor
  • Economic Analyst
  • Economic Consultant
  • Economic Development Specialist
  • Economist

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This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.