Economist

Typical Salary

£25,000 To £80,000

Typical Hours

37 to 39 a week

between 8am and 6pm

How To Become a Economist

You can get into this job through:

a university course
an apprenticeship
working towards this role
a graduate training scheme

College / University

You'll need a degree in economics or a related subject, like:

statistics
mathematics
business studies
finance and accounting

2 or 3 A levels, or equivalent, including maths or economics

a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study

Apprenticeship

You could complete a professional economist or senior professional economist degree apprenticeship.

4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a degree apprenticeship

Routes into this Career

You could start as an economic research officer or analyst in the private sector and work your way up.

Other Routes

You could apply for a place on the Government Economic Service Fast Stream programme, starting out as an assistant economist.

You'll need a degree in economics or a combined degree, with at least 50% economics. A postgraduate award in economics may be acceptable.

Skills And Knowledge

You'll need:

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 carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

Day To Day Tasks

Your work will vary depending on whether you’re advising the government or business sector, but your day-to-day duties might include:

researching information from computer databases, websites, journals and newspapers
monitoring past and present economic issues and trends
creating mathematical models to predict future economic developments
analysing statistics
writing reports and presenting findings
examining the effectiveness of current policies
advising on the potential economic impact of policies and ideas

Working Environment

You could work in an office or at a university.

Career Path & Progression

Career Path & Progression are not listed for this job.

Volunteering Opportunities

Volunteering Opportunities are not listed for this job.

Tips & Information

Professional and industry bodies

You can find professional development training and networking opportunities with the Royal Economic Society and the The Society of Professional Economists.

Further information

You'll find more advice about working as an economist in the public sector through the Government Economic Service.

Restrictions & Requirements

Restrictions & Requirements are not listed for this job.