Economist
Economists advise government departments, businesses, banks and other organisations on economic matters.
Typical Salary
£28,000 – £60,000
per year
Working Hours
37–39
hours per week
Day-to-day tasks
As an economist, you could:
- research information and analyse statistics
- create models to forecast economic developments
- advise on the potential economic impact of policies and commercial decisions
- monitor past and present economic issues and trends
- write reports and present findings
Skills needed
- maths knowledge
- knowledge of economics and accounting
- analytical thinking skills
- excellent verbal communication skills
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- ambition and a desire to succeed
- excellent written communication skills
- the ability to think clearly using logic and reasoning
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently
How to get into this role
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role
- a graduate training scheme
Career progression
With experience, you could:
- become a senior economic adviser in a government department or financial institution
- work for an economic policy unit
- write for economic journals
- teach in higher education
- specialise, for example in environmental economics
You could also become a self-employed freelance consultant.