Economist
Economists study how people, businesses and governments use resources, and analyse data to explain and forecast trends such as growth, prices, jobs and trade.
What can you do with an economics degree?
Also called: Economic sciences · Applied economics · Econometrics · Economics and finance
Updated How we use data
Quick answer
An economics degree studies how people, businesses and governments make choices with limited resources, and how markets, money and policy affect jobs, prices and growth. It uses mathematics, statistics and data. Graduates become economists, financial analysts, data analysts, management consultants, policy officers and actuaries, and work in banks, governments, international organisations and businesses.
Careers with an economics degree
Economics graduates work in finance, government, consulting, business and research. Many become financial analysts or data analysts, and others join consulting firms as management consultants. Economist roles in central banks, government departments and international organisations are competitive and often need a master's degree. Policy officers use economic thinking in areas such as health, energy and trade. Graduates with strong mathematics can become actuaries after professional exams. Less obvious options include journalism, market research, competition regulation and roles in technology companies.
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Financial analyst
Financial analysts study financial data, markets and company performance to help businesses and investors make decisions about money.
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Management consultant
Management consultants help organisations solve problems and improve performance, for example by changing strategy, reducing costs, reorganising teams or introducing new technology.
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Data analyst
Data analysts collect, clean and study data to answer practical questions, such as which products sell best or where a service is failing.
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Policy officer
Policy officers research problems, analyse evidence and advise decision makers on laws, programmes and strategies.
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Actuary
Actuaries use mathematics, statistics and financial theory to measure and manage risk, especially in insurance, pensions and investment.
Other roles graduates go into: Economic consultant · Market research analyst · Investment banking analyst · Pricing analyst · Research analyst
What you study and the skills you gain
Typical topics
- Microeconomics
- Macroeconomics
- Econometrics and statistics
- Mathematics for economists
- Public economics and policy
- International and development economics
- Money, banking and financial economics
- Behavioural economics
Skills you gain
- Building and testing models of how people and markets behave
- Analysing data with statistics and software
- Evaluating policies and their trade-offs
- Writing clear arguments based on evidence
- Interpreting economic news and data
- Explaining complex ideas simply
How the degree differs around the world
In the UK and much of Europe, a bachelor's degree usually takes three years, and in the United States, Canada and many Asian countries it is typically a four-year programme, often as a major within a broader degree. Programmes differ a lot in how mathematical they are: some focus on econometrics and theory, while others focus on policy, history and political economy. Many universities expect strong school mathematics. A master's degree is common, and it is often expected for professional economist roles in governments and international organisations.
How do economics graduates do?
Earnings and employment by country
The OECD compares graduates by field of study. This subject falls under “Social sciences, journalism and information”. The first column compares the median earnings of tertiary-educated adults in this field with all tertiary-educated adults (100 = average).
| Country | Earnings index (all graduates = 100) | Employment rate, this field | Employment rate, all graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Estonia | 112 (2023) | 89.8% (2024) | 89.2% |
| Chile | 112 (2023) | 82.5% (2022) | 85.7% |
| Denmark | 107 (2023) | 89.5% (2021) | 87.8% |
| Norway | 107 (2023) | 87.0% (2024) | 89.3% |
| Switzerland | 107 (2023) | 86.4% (2024) | 89.5% |
| Finland | 106 (2022) | 88.6% (2024) | 88.8% |
| United States | 101 (2023) | 83.7% (2017) | 84.3% |
| Costa Rica | 101 (2023) | 72.4% (2024) | 79.2% |
| Latvia | 100 (2023) | 86.8% (2024) | 87.7% |
| South Korea | 100 (2023) | — | — |
| Canada | 98 (2020) | 80.4% (2021) | 80.4% |
| Romania | 97 (2023) | 91.1% (2024) | 91.5% |
| Slovenia | 96 (2020) | 89.9% (2024) | 90.8% |
| Australia | 96 (2020) | 85.5% (2024) | 88.4% |
| Luxembourg | 95 (2023) | 84.6% (2024) | 85.7% |
| Austria | 94 (2023) | 83.0% (2024) | 86.4% |
| Portugal | 93 (2020) | 90.7% (2024) | 90.7% |
| Mexico | 93 (2023) | 78.6% (2024) | 81.5% |
| Sweden | 92 (2023) | 88.5% (2024) | 89.6% |
| United Kingdom | 91 (2020) | 85.5% (2021) | 84.6% |
| Germany | 81 (2020) | 85.1% (2024) | 88.7% |
| Iceland | — | 94.4% (2016) | 93.6% |
| Lithuania | — | 92.5% (2024) | 90.4% |
| Poland | — | 91.2% (2024) | 91.6% |
| Netherlands | — | 90.5% (2024) | 90.6% |
| Slovakia | — | 89.8% (2024) | 90.5% |
| Belgium | — | 86.1% (2024) | 88.5% |
| Czechia | — | 86.1% (2024) | 88.4% |
| Ireland | — | 85.8% (2021) | 86.9% |
| Croatia | — | 83.6% (2024) | 89.7% |
| Italy | — | 83.5% (2024) | 84.7% |
| Spain | — | 83.5% (2024) | 83.9% |
| France | — | 82.1% (2024) | 87.3% |
| Greece | — | 81.0% (2024) | 82.3% |
| Peru | — | 80.9% (2024) | 81.7% |
| Türkiye | — | 68.1% (2016) | 72.9% |
| Hungary | — | 62.2% (2024) | 76.2% |
Source: OECD, Education at a Glance. Adults aged 25–64 with tertiary education; latest year available, full-time earners where published. Values are for the whole field of study, not this subject alone.
Graduate earnings in the UK
The UK government links tax records to university records to measure what graduates earn. These figures are for “Economics” first-degree graduates who were employed in the 2023–24 tax year.
| Time since graduating | Median | Lower quartile | Upper quartile | In work or study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| After 1 year | £30,700 | £24,200 | £39,500 | 88.7% |
| After 3 years | £39,200 | £30,700 | £52,700 | 89.3% |
| After 5 years | £51,200 | £37,000 | £69,900 | 87.9% |
| After 10 years | £71,400 | £45,600 | £107,600 | 83.7% |
Source: UK Department for Education, Graduate labour market outcomes (LEO), tax year 2023–24. Earnings are annual and include only graduates in sustained employment. More UK detail on CourseToJob.co.uk
Is an economics degree right for you?
It may suit you if
- You are curious about why some countries are rich and others poor, and what causes economic crises.
- You enjoy mathematics and using data to test ideas.
- You like debating policies and weighing up their costs and benefits.
Think twice if
- You expect mostly discussion and essays, as most programmes use a lot of mathematics and statistics.
- You want practical business skills, which a business or accounting degree may teach more directly.
- You dislike abstract models and theory.
Further study
A master's degree in economics, finance or data science is common and is often expected for economist posts in government, central banks and international organisations. A PhD is needed for academic careers and senior research roles. Some graduates take professional exams in accounting, actuarial science or investment while working, and others go on to study law.
Questions about studying economics
What jobs can you get with an economics degree?
Common jobs include economist, financial analyst, data analyst, management consultant, policy officer and actuary. Graduates also work in investment banking, economic consulting, market research, pricing, journalism and regulation. Employers include banks, governments, central banks, international organisations, consulting firms, technology companies and charities.
Is economics a hard degree?
It can be demanding, mainly because of the mathematics and statistics. Most programmes include calculus, statistics and econometrics, and the theory can feel abstract at first. Students who are comfortable with mathematics and enjoy applying it to real-world questions usually do well. Some programmes are less mathematical, so compare modules before you apply.
Do you need maths to study economics?
In most cases, yes. Many universities ask for good school mathematics, and the most competitive programmes often require advanced mathematics. You use calculus, algebra and statistics throughout the degree. If you are less confident, look for programmes with foundation mathematics modules or a stronger focus on policy and history.
What is the difference between economics and business management?
Economics studies how whole markets and economies work, using theory, mathematics and data to explain choices, prices, jobs and growth. Business management focuses on how individual organisations are run, including marketing, people, operations and strategy. Economics is usually more mathematical and theoretical, while business management is more practical and applied.
Related subjects
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Accounting and finance
An accounting and finance degree teaches how organisations record, report, analyse and manage money, from financial statements and tax to investment and risk.
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Mathematics
A mathematics degree develops advanced reasoning and problem-solving through pure mathematics, such as algebra and analysis, and applied areas, such as statistics, modelling and computing.
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Politics
A politics degree, often called political science, studies how power works: how governments are chosen and run, how laws and policies are made, and why people and countries cooperate or come into conflict.
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Business management
A business management degree teaches how organisations are run, including strategy, marketing, finance, people management and operations.
Sources
- OECD — Education at a Glance, labour-market outcomes — Earnings and employment by field of study, adults 25–64
- UK Department for Education — Graduate labour market outcomes (LEO) — CAH CAH15-02-01 — Economics
- UNESCO — ISCED-F 2013 — ISCED-F 0311
How to cite this page: CourseToJob (2026). What can you do with an economics degree? Jobs and salaries. https://coursetojob.com/subjects/economics/ (accessed September 26, 2026)