Jobs for Economics Majors
If you’re the analytical type, fascinated by the world around you, then an economics major might be a good choice for you. A degree in economics can be used in many areas, including public policy and finance. You can use an economics degree to study industry trends, labor markets, the prospects for individual companies, and the forces that drive the economy.
Economics majors learn to gather, organize, and interpret data, using mathematical formulas and statistics to make calculations. They also create models to predict the impact of investments, policy decisions, industry trends, demographics, climate change, and much more.
Although economics majors must be able to analyze problems and propose solutions, success in the field also requires solid communication skills. Individuals working in economics have to be able to translate their complex findings into a format that business leaders, legislators, and everyday people can understand.
Since graduates with a degree in economics are masters of the chart and graph as tools for summarizing trends and results, the ability to write clear descriptions and present complicated information to others are also vital skills for the economics major.
Given the breadth of the major, there are many possible career choices for people with a degree in economics. To choose the right career, you will need to consider your other skills, interests, and values.
Here are the top ten jobs for economics majors.
01 Market Research Analyst
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Market research analysts tap the knowledge of industry trends to assess how products or services might fare under various economic conditions. Like economics majors, they are trained to design studies and gather and analyze data. They must be able to quantify results and represent this information to clients.
Market research analysts apply many of the skills that economics majors develop, such as the use of presentation software and graphical representation, as well as writing and statistical skills. They must think critically about products and services and solve problems involved with their marketing.
02 Economic Consultant
Economic consultants use analytical and research skills to carry out studies regarding economic scenarios. They analyze industry trends to help organizations improve their performance. They might work for organizations in a variety of industries, including business, finance, healthcare, education, the government, and more.
Economic consultants can also act as expert witnesses in legal cases to assess economic damages, analyze intellectual property and antitrust violations, and address regulatory violations.
03 Compensation and Benefits Manager
Just like economics majors, compensation and benefits managers must be able to think in numbers, since they evaluate options for pay and benefits. They study trends in the labor market and assess supply and demand for various classes of jobs.
Compensation and benefits managers research pay and benefits in similar organizations within their industry to establish a competitive structure for their company’s pay and benefits.
They create reports and represent their findings to senior management, and might also work with their company’s human resources department.
04 Actuary
Actuaries apply advanced mathematical and statistical skills to determine the likelihood of insurable events like fires, deaths, illnesses, and business failures. Like economics majors, they need to consider a great number of variables when analyzing risk profiles to establish a profitable structure for insurance policies.
Actuaries often use computer software to help with their analyses. They devise graphs and charts to convey their decisions to other members of the management team.
05 Credit Analyst
Credit analysts conduct microeconomic analyses of prospective clients to assess the risks involved with loaning funds to those people or businesses. They take into account economic trends and factors impacting the region, industries, and competitors of prospective clients.
Credit analysts prepare reports summarizing their findings and suggest interest rates that are appropriate given the risk profile of clients.
06 Financial Analyst
Financial analysts research companies, industries, stocks, bonds, and other investment vehicles for finance departments. Their analyses often require the advanced quantitative skills possessed by many economics majors.
Financial analysts often use computer software and models to aid in their analyses. They write reports and prepare presentations for colleagues and clients who make the final decisions about investments, stock/bond offerings, and mergers/acquisitions.
07 Policy Analyst
Policy analysts research and analyze issues that impact the public and recommend legislation and government intervention to address the problems. Economic knowledge is critical to understanding many of the issues and for creating affordable solutions.
Economics majors often have the skills needed to analyze issues like healthcare, taxes, energy, the environment, and international trade policy.
Policy analysts rely on strong writing skills to represent the findings of their research and convince legislators and the public of the viability of their recommendations.
08 Lawyer
Lawyers use critical thinking and analytical skills to prepare and try their cases. Many areas of law such as corporate law, tax law, antitrust law, personal injury, and medical malpractice involve the application of micro- and macroeconomic analysis.
Lawyers draw on research and writing skills to carry out their work. They must gather facts and evidence to support a position. Lawyers must compellingly present their findings to convince a judge, jury, or opposing attorney of their position.
09 Management Consultant
Management consultants analyze business problems and research possible solutions to present to clients. New college graduates often start out in positions like research analyst, research assistant, or junior consultant where they support the work of more senior staff. They can then move up to positions like a management consultant.
The economics major provides an excellent background in the financial and quantitative modeling that consultants use to conduct their analyses. Writing and public speaking skills are also necessary when writing reports and presenting recommendations to clients.
10 Business Reporter
Business/Economics Reporters research, write and broadcast stories about business leaders, companies, industry trends, economic developments and financial markets. In essence, they are ongoing students of economics as applied to the modern world.
The curiosity that economics majors often possess about how the economic world functions is essential for success in this field. The ability to write about economic issues in plain language that the average viewer or reader can comprehend is also vital.
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