Economists

What the job really is

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.

At a glance

• Sector: Life, Physical & Social Science
• O*NET-SOC code: 19-3011
• O*NET job zone: 5 — extensive preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 12
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• 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.
• Formulate recommendations, policies, or plans to solve economic problems or to interpret markets.
• Supervise research projects and students' study projects.
• Conduct research on economic issues, and disseminate research findings through technical reports or scientific articles in journals.
• Develop economic guidelines and standards, and prepare points of view used in forecasting trends and formulating economic policy.
• Teach theories, principles, and methods of economics.
• Testify at regulatory or legislative hearings concerning the estimated effects of changes in legislation or public policy, and present recommendations based on cost-benefit analyses.

Tools and technology

C++, IBM SPSS Statistics, Microsoft Access, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Power BI, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft Visual Basic, Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications VBA, Microsoft Word

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Environmental Economists
• Economics Teachers, Postsecondary
• Financial and Investment Analysts
• Political Scientists
• Business Teachers, Postsecondary
• Financial Quantitative Analysts
• Investment Fund Managers
• Financial Risk Specialists

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 5 (extensive preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

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Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Economists — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.