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What types of jobs can I pursue with a background in economics?

Hi, I'm a 16-year-old high school student determined to get an education in the areas of economics and business. I have a huge interest in these subjects but I'm not sure what types of jobs I would be pursuing as an economist in the future. #career #economics #business #highschool #highschoolstudent #student #linkedin

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Doc’s Answer

Another great question Danieth,

HERE ARE TEN CAREERS YOU CAN PURSUE WITH AN ECONOMICS DEGREE

ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMIST
Environmental economists collect research, analyse historical data and use statistical software and complex modelling programs to evaluate the economic impact of environmental changes.

PERSONAL FINACIAL ADVISER
Personal financial advisers assist individual clients with budgeting, taxes, mortgages, insurance, investments and retirement goals. This is also a great job for those who want to combine their people skills with their recently acquired knowledge in business, banking and finance.

ACCOUNTANT
The beauty of a career as an accountant is the variety of jobs available, as every kind of company. Depending on personal preference, you can choose anything from a straightforward role in a private tax practice to a high-pressure job for a large corporation, dealing with complex budgets and international finance laws.

MARKET RESEARCH ANALYST
Rapidly-evolving technology has made a career in marketing more exciting and challenging than ever, and your economics degree can help you land a job as a market research analyst. This is another career that has good job growth, as companies are increasingly looking for solid data to influence their business decisions.

BUSINESS JOURNALIST
If you love the thought of using all your recently acquired knowledge to inform and educate others, consider a career as a business journalist. Your economics degree allows you to classify yourself as a freelancer, columnist or TV correspondent.

ACTUARY
A job as an actuary is all about assessing risk, assigning a financial cost to potential events and helping organisations plan for and hopefully mitigate negative outcomes. While this is a role that is vital to the insurance and healthcare industries, you can also find careers in government, the stock market and banking.

FINANCIAL ANALYST
The basic role of a financial analyst is to offer clients advice on their investments. You'll need to research historical financial data, keep up with constantly shifting economic and business trends, and visit companies in person to fully assess their prospects.

STOCKBROCKER
If you're looking for a job with constant excitement that requires quick thinking, diligent monitoring of financial markets and a lot of responsibility, a stockbroker gig may be for you. You'll seek out clients and manage their investments. You'll also buy and sell stocks, bonds and commodities

ACADEMIC ECONOMIST
After earning a BA in economics, taking on the role of economist may seem like the first step in your new career college professor. If you want a career in research and teaching, however, you'll need to attain your master's degree or a PhD.

FOREIGN SERVICE ECONOMIC OFFICER
While you may have learned a lot about other countries while earning your economics degree, this diplomatic position allows you to gather more knowledge first-hand. Economic officers may represent the US at a foreign post or be stationed at home with frequent travel abroad as an official negotiator.

I look forward to your next question Danieth, John
Thank you comment icon Thank You Dwight. “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” — Mahatma Gandhi Doc Frick
Thank you comment icon Thank You Ignacio. “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, What are you doing for others?” — Martin Luther King, Jr. Doc Frick
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Adriane’s Answer

Hi Danieh!

There's a lot you can do with an economics degree, but there are two primary divisions: academia and professional.

Staying in the world of academia, that would generally require an advanced degree, like a master's or PhD. and you would then participate in and generate new research studies to drive the field of economics; understanding how different events and thing impact the economy either globally or locally, market predictions and models if you're interested in econometrics, and also advanced teaching, like a professor.

In the professional world, you can do some of the same work and a lot of similar research-based work would still require an advanced degree. Economics can specifically be useful in roles involving forecasting and modeling, like valuation, investing, or consulting. Other areas of work could really be anything analytical; an economics degree really sets you up with analytical skills that can apply to a lot of different business positions. I have a degree in economics and I am an organizational coach. I work in the finance industry, so my economics knowledge helps me understand the work the people I coach do and better work with them to develop solutions in their work, but I'm not the one doing the economics-related work.

There are a lot of options out there for you, so if you're really interested, you'll find plenty out there, just keep an open mind!
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Kyle’s Answer

Possible jobs are consultants, accountants, transfer pricing, investor, teaching. A degree in economics is great for business intelligence and being able to to use data to find trends or predict future events
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Lindsay’s Answer

Hi Danieh!

I have an economics degree and ended up in the technology field--I started out of college as a business analyst. The economics degree gave me a practical background in analytical thinking and problem solving, which was a great basis for a business analyst role in a consulting company. I went on to become a software engineer for a period of time, and then into management - but those critical thinking skills I gained still serve me well today.

Thanks for the question!
Lindsay
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Beth’s Answer

You have a lot of options with an economics degree! I have a bachelor's in economics and work in commercial lending- analyzing businesses and make recommendations on loan applications.
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John’s Answer

Danieth - There are many professions you can land with an Economics degree. Many years ago when I was in the same place as you, enjoyed the critical thinking and analysis associated with studying economics, but wasn't sure what sort of profession I might go into. I studied economics and finance and started working for a commercial bank. Those 2 disciplines helped me understand the impact of the economy on businesses while I was making lending decisions. I then went into auditing where I spent a long career auditing numerous public and non-public companies. I have continued to be in the audit space, but now on the internal audit side, advising areas of the our business. So, in sort, there are many businesses and professions in what you can apply a economics and business field of study and I encourage you to pursue as I have found it very enjoyable and rewarding.

John
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Nick’s Answer

Hi Danieh,

An economics degree opens the door to many career opportunities - including in both the public and private sectors. For instance, you could work as an economic analyst for the state/federal government, helping to provide insights to policymakers and regulators. Likewise, you could pursue private sector opportunities across a variety of industries - including consulting, corporate strategy, or investment management, among other roles.

Good luck with your future career!
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Kelly’s Answer

A background in economics allows you to apply quantitative and analytical skills in many different industries and careers. Jobs in accounting, finance, real estate, and banking would be available to you, as well as more policy oriented jobs with local/federal government or international organizations to address policy issues such as commerce, housing, and international affairs.
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Sosthenes’s Answer

Hi Danieh,

It is great that you have an interest in economics as it is one of those areas of study that can make you versatile in terms of career choices. You could for example, pursue careers in banking, think-tanks, government agencies or even multinational corporations. You could also pursue an advanced degree to become a professor. I do think that there is a lot of future opportunities ahead of you. Good luck.
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Dan’s Answer

I have an economics degree, and where I went to school, it was essentially the equivalent of a business degree. Many that study economics in school tend to have an interest in business, data, finance, math, which leads them into that area of study, but the options coming out of school are many.

My experience was that it didn't lock you into any particular economic field, but the underlying concepts and skills you learn are applicable in a variety of areas tied to any business (business strategy, financial accounting, credit risk management, investment banking, economist, strategy consulting, etc.). My view is that it's generally a myth that you're major in college locks you into a career (it may make it easier to get a start in a certain field, but by no means would mean that you're stuck in a certain field for life).
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Meera’s Answer

Hi there. I think a background in economics gives you tremendous opportunities in the public and private sector. For example, my company has economists that look at real estate fundamentals and what is currently going on in the markets and how that could potentially impact the multifamily industry. But at the same time, you can use the economics degree across various business fields given that the concepts are very similar. Good Luck.
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Lauren’s Answer

analyst, investment banker, marketing, advertising, accounting
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Michelle’s Answer

Hi Danieh,

There are several career opportunities with an Economics and Business degree. Here is a list of a few:
•Economist
•Financial risk analyst
•Data analyst
•Financial planner
•Accountant or Banker
•Economic researcher
•Financial consultant
•Investment analyst
•Actuary
•Public sector roles

I would recommend researching any of these roles and speak with an University counselor to guide you for any opportunities to gain experience in volunteering or interning.
Wishing you all the best!
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Dante’s Answer

Here are a list of jobs:

1. Broker
2. Financial Advisor
3. Accountant
4. Bookkeeper
5. Investor
6. Teacher

Go to www.bls.gov for information on those positions/careers.
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Carolyn’s Answer

There are a lot of career options with an economics degree in corporate America - Finance, data analyst, financial planner, investor/broker accountant just to name a few. you can teach it as well
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Richard’s Answer

My son studied economics and has received job offers in consulting/investment banking so I will answer from the perspective of his advice.

Economics opens up an extremely broad array of careers. Naturally economists, also corporate strategy, marketing, data science (from a rigorous and quantitative program anyway), finance and consulting of course.

Once you narrow down your interests, you can tune them with niche skills! For grad school/data science, programming! For finance/consulting, news/strategy books!
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James’s Answer

I received my undergraduate degree with a dual major in Economics/Finance. I entered the banking & mortgage finance industry and have carved out a good career since the mid 1980's. My studies in economics has helped me throughout. If you want to become strictly an economist in that sense I would strongly suggest pursuing a Masters or PHD.
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