Humanities and Social Sciences - Economics Careers
What Does An Economist Do?
Economists collect, analyze and interpret data to discover trends, make forecasts, recommend policies, and generally raise our understanding of changes in economic conditions, population, government policies, social trends, etc.
What Skills Does an Economics Degree Provide?
Completing courses in economics will give students skills in many of the areas identified in the Conference Board of Canada's "Employability Skills Profile." For example: the ability to "read, comprehend, and use written material, including graphs, charts and displays," the "ability to think critically and act logically to evaluate situations, solve problems and make decisions," and the ability to "understand and solve problems involving mathematics and use the results."
Where Could an Economics Graduate Work?
Economists are employed in the central offices of banks, insurance companies and other financial instituions, in manufacturing and resource-based companies (such as energy, utilities, mining, forestry, automobiles), and in most departments of the federal and provincial governments.
Other economists work as researchers and professors in colleges, universities and private research institutes, or with smaller consulting companies that contract their services to organizations without their own economists.
Specialized positions for economists typically require a Master's degree in economics, but many entry level positions in management, administration, government, and sales are open to BA graduates in economics.
Related Links