careernav.

Leading Companies & Markets

Economists can find employment with private organisations, such as insurance companies, manufacturing companies, and management consulting firms. Banks are also a large employer of economists, as are governments, industry associations and educational institutions.  

You may work for local, state or federal government. In this position, you will commonly act as an economic analyst and policy adviser. You may work in areas such as transportation, international trade, agriculture and labour. If you choose to find employment in education, it is likely you will find a job with a university. Here, you may teach, undertake research, write articles or books on your findings, and carry out consultation work. Economists may run their own consulting businesses, though it isn’t overly common.

Employment prospects for economists as such are average. The skills you acquire studying economics stand you in good stead in careers as diverse as actuary, financial planner, researcher, or public policy consultant.

Environment & Culture

For the most part, economists are based in offices, but you may occasionally have to venture out on fieldwork or travel, often to professional meetings. Your standard work week is forty hours; however you may find that longer hours are necessary to complete your detailed and concentration-heavy work. Economists do much specialised reading, studying, and analysing. Your job will require a large amount of report writing and composing data. You will often work independently, but there will be times when you work with colleagues, managers, government officials, students and others.