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Finance & accounting

Economist Green Job

Economists advise government departments, businesses, banks and other organisations on economic matters.

Annual Salary

£28,000 to £60,000

Average UK salary in 2022 was £33,200
(source Office for National Statistics)

Working hours

37 to 39 a week

You could work: between 8am and 6pm;

2.4%
Future employment

There will be 2.4% more Economist jobs in 2027.

Day to day tasks

As an economist, you could:

  • research information and analyse statistics
  • create models to forecast economic developments
  • advise on the potential economic impact of policies and commercial decisions
  • monitor past and present economic issues and trends
  • write reports and present findings

Working environment

You could work in an office or at a university.

You can get into this job through:

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

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

  • statistics
  • mathematics
  • business studies
  • finance and accounting

Some employers may prefer you to have a postgraduate master's degree in economics.

Your university course should include both macro and microeconomics.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 2 or 3 A levels, or equivalent, including maths or economics
  • a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study
For more information
Apprenticeship

You could start a Professional Economist Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship, or a Senior Professional Economist Level 7 Degree Apprenticeship to get into this career.

Employers set their own entry requirements for an apprenticeship, which are likely to include maths at GCSE and A level. They may ask for a first degree in economics, or a similar subject, to start the Level 7 apprenticeship.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

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

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.

More information

Professional and industry bodies

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

Further information

You'll find advice about working as an economist at Discover Economics.

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With experience, you could:become a senior economic adviser in a government department or financial institution; work for an economic policy unit; write for economic journals; teach in higher education; specialise, for example in environmental economics

You could also become a self-employed freelance consultant.

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

Skills required and how your skills match up

What skills are required?

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
  • the ability to read English
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently
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