Economist

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.

• Society of Professional Economists – Professional organisation for people working in this field

• Royal Economic Society – education information and resources

• Government Economic Service – Part of the UK Civil Service and professional body for economists in the UK public sector

• Bank of England – Careers information