Economist
Career outlook for economist
UK Salary Ranges
Entry-level
£28,000
£28,000
Experienced
£60,000
£60,000
Currently employed in Scotland
5,500
Salary information is provided by the "National Careers Service". "Oxford Economics" supplies job forecasts and employment figures. Due to COVID-19 the jobs market is constantly changing. Some of the information may not reflect the current situation.
What's it like?
In this role, you'd offer economic advice to a range of organisations. You might be looking at the economy of a business, an industry, a government or even globally.
It might help governments to develop policies or businesses to plan financial strategies for the future. Research into the global economy could also influence international economic organisations.
You’d do research and analyse statistics. You’d look at issues like how much people earn, how much things cost and how people spend their money.
You’d apply economic theory to come up with ideas about what’s happening in the economy and what it might mean for the future. You’d explain your ideas clearly and simply to people with less technical knowledge than you.
You could work with a wide range of organisations, including:
- government departments
- businesses
- banks and financial institutions
- educational establishments
- investment groups
- research institutes
As an economist, you'd:
- research information from computer databases, websites, journals and newspapers
- look at past and present economic issues and trends
- create mathematical models to predict future developments
- analyse statistics
- produce reports
- present findings to your employer or client
- write reports for the media
- examine the effectiveness of current policies
- advise on the potential economic impact of policies and ideas
If you work in a university you may also teach students as well as doing research.
Working conditions
Hours
Environment
Travel
UK employment status
Full-time
87%
Part-time
8%
Self employed
5%
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Find a jobTop skills
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- Cooperating
- Verbal communication
- Written communication
- Working with numbers
- Researching
- Social conscience
- Attention to detail
- Developing a plan
- Time management
- Analysing
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Entry requirements for courses can change. Always contact the college, university or training provider to check exactly what you'll need.
Foundation Apprenticeships
Choosing a Foundation Apprenticeship as one of your subjects in S5 and S6 can help you get a head start with this type of job.
You'll get an SCQF level 6 qualification (the same level as a Higher) plus valuable work placement experience and skills you can't learn in a classroom.
Interested? Find out what's on offer at your school on Apprenticeships.scot.
Qualifications
You'd need a first or second class honours degree (SCQF 10). Some employers would need a postgraduate qualification (SCQF 11).
Though you can apply for this job with any degree, some will be more helpful. For example, those with a numerate, finance or business focus and with units in economics or development studies.
To enter an economics degree, you'll need either:
- National 5 qualifications and Highers at BBBC or above
- a relevant HNC or HND.
To enter a finance or economics postgraduate qualification, you'll need one or both of the following:
- a degree in a related discipline at 2:1 or above
- relevant work-based experience.
Useful subjects
- English (required by most employers and courses)
- maths (required by most employers and courses)
- accounts
- economics
- statistics
- ICT subjects
- business
- social subjects
You will also need
Once in the job you may find it useful to join a professional body such as the Royal Economic Society or the Society of Business Economists.