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Economists

Also called: Economist, Economic Analyst, Professor, Professor of Economics

What they do:
Conduct research, prepare reports, or formulate plans to address economic problems related to the production and distribution of goods and services or monetary and fiscal policy. May collect and process economic and statistical data using sampling techniques and econometric methods.
On the job, you would:
  • Supervise research projects and students' study projects.
  • Teach theories, principles, and methods of economics.
  • Provide litigation support, such as writing reports for expert testimony or testifying as an expert witness.

Knowledge

Business
  • accounting and economics
Math and Science
  • arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics
Arts and Humanities
  • English language
Engineering and Technology
  • computers and electronics

Skills

Basic Skills
  • listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
  • talking to others
Problem Solving
  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it
People and Technology Systems
  • thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one
  • figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it

Abilities

Verbal
  • communicate by writing
  • read and understand what is written
Math
  • choose the right type of math to solve a problem
  • add, subtract, multiply, or divide
Ideas and Logic
  • make general rules or come up with answers from lots of detailed information
  • use rules to solve problems

Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include
ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Analytical Thinking
  • Attention to Detail
  • Achievement/Effort
  • Integrity
  • Initiative
  • Persistence

Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Analytical or scientific software
  • Quantitative Micro Software EViews
  • TreeAge Software TreeAge Pro
Spreadsheet software
  • Corel QuattroPro
  • Microsoft Excel
Object or component oriented development software
  • C++
  • Microsoft Visual C# .NET

Education

Education: (rated 5 of 5)
doctoral/professional degree or
master's degree
usually needed

Get started on your career:

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Job Outlook

Below Average Outlook
New job opportunities are less likely in the future.
Salary
$90,550
per year, on average
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See more details at O*NET OnLine about economists.