What do economists do?
Economists analyze how people, businesses, and governments make decisions and how those decisions affect society. Their skills are relevant to a wide range of questions, from employment and financial markets to education, crime, and the environment.
A background in economics can lead to careers in both the private and public sectors. Potential employers include banks, consulting firms, businesses, government agencies, municipalities and international organizations. Economists work in roles such as:
- Analysts, examining economic trends, markets and data to support decisions.
- Policy advisers and investigators, assessing policy proposals and evaluating public programs.
- Financial analysts, working with investment decisions, credit and risk.
- Consultants, helping organizations address economic and business questions.
- Researchers, developing and testing explanations of economic behavior, usually after further postgraduate study.
Studying economics develops your ability to think analytically, assess evidence and understand trade-offs. Training in statistics and econometrics provides tools for analyzing data and evaluating cause and effect. Together with clear communication skills, these abilities prepare you to investigate complex questions and explain findings to different audiences.