Economics

Studying economics teaches you about social policy and financial markets, useful for careers in finance, accountancy and government administration

Job options

Jobs directly related to your degree include:

• Actuary
• Chartered public finance accountant
• Compliance officer
• Data analyst
• Economist
• Financial manager
• Financial risk analyst
• Internal auditor
• Investment analyst
• Political risk analyst
• Statistician
• Stockbroker
• Tax adviser

Jobs where your degree would be useful include:

• Business development manager
• Civil Service fast streamer
• Data scientist
• Diplomatic service officer
• Local government officer
• Management consultant
• Policy officer
• Politician's assistant
• Procurement manager
• Quantity surveyor
• Risk manager

Remember that many employers accept applications from graduates with any degree subject, so don't restrict your thinking to the jobs listed here.

Work experience

Look for work experience within the job sector that you're interested in. For example, if you would like to work as an economist, you may want to consider applying for a place on the Government Economic Service (GES) summer scheme. You'll need to be in your penultimate year and have a predicted grade of a first class or a 2:1 honours degree.

Individual government departments may also be able to offer work experience. Contact departments directly to find out more.

You could also consider work experience, such as a work placement or internship, in areas such as accountancy, banking or finance. Work shadowing is also useful as it can give you an insight into a particular job.

Any work experience, either paid or voluntary, is useful as it allows you to build essential skills in areas such as teamworking, communication and time management.

It's also helpful to join your university's student economics society and organisations such as the Royal Economic Society for networking opportunities.

Search for placements and find out more about work experience and internships.

Typical employers

Economists are employed in a variety of settings in both the public and private sectors.

The largest employer of economists in the UK is the Civil Service through the GES. The Bank of England also provides vacancies through its graduate development programme.

Other employers of economics graduates include:

• accountancy firms
• banks (high street and city)
• charitable and not-for-profit organisations
• consultancies
• insurance companies
• government departments and think tanks
• non-government organisations (NGOs).

You could also work in areas such as retail management or sales and marketing.

Find information on employers in accountancy, banking and finance, business, consulting and management, public services and administration and other job sectors.

Skills for your CV

An economics degree gives you subject-specific skills enabling you to apply economic principles and models to real life situations. You gain an understanding of organisational behaviour and structure, as well as the driving forces shaping social policy and financial markets. You also develop skills in statistical analysis.

You also develop valuable transferable skills, including:

• communication - presenting findings and explaining complex data in an easy to understand format
• numeracy - handling complex data and applying mathematical and statistical analysis methods
• problem solving - extracting business and financial information, interpreting data and drawing conclusions, and making recommendations
• computing - using both general IT applications and specialist software
• time management - completing assignments to deadline
• analytical and creative thinking skills - analysing research methods, data, conclusions and recommendations.

Further study

You may choose to continue studying economics at postgraduate level, either for personal interest or to help with entry into a particular career. You could choose to specialise within a certain area of economics, such as health, agriculture or regional economic development.

Postgraduate study can also help you change career focus or gain the professional qualifications you need to practise in certain career areas, such as accountancy.

Although it's not essential, postgraduate study can offer an advantage if you want a career in a competitive area. Do your research before choosing a course to make sure it meets your career aims.

For more information on further study and to find a course that interests you, see Masters degrees and search postgraduate courses in economics.

What do economics graduates do?

Nine of the top ten jobs held by economics graduates in employment in the UK are related to business, finance and marketing. These include finance and investment analysts and advisers (16%), chartered and certified accountants (11%), management consultants and business analysts (7%), actuaries, economists and statisticians (6%), taxation experts (3%), financial admin occupations (3%), business sales executives (2%), financial accounts managers (2%) and brokers (2%).

Find out what other economics graduates are doing 15 months after finishing their degrees in What do graduates do?

Graduate Outcomes survey data from HESA.

Find out more

• The Economist
• Royal Economic Society
• Society of Professional Economists (SPE)