Career Paths in Economics

There are many different career options available for Economics graduates. Below is a sample of types of positions that Economics graduates have gone on to.

Note: This is not an exhaustive list as there are many other careers available. Many positions require additional education or experience.

  • Accountant*
  • Actuary*
  • Insurance Claims Adjuster*
  • Commodity Analyst/Trader
  • Compensation/Benefits Coordinator
  • Credit Analyst
  • Insurance Agent/Broker*
  • Labour Relations Specialist
  • Market Research Analyst*
  • Media Buyer*
  • Purchasing Agent/Buyer*
  • Securities Broker
  • Stockbroker
  • Underwriter*
  • Agricultural Economist
  • Demographer
  • Foreign Service Officer*
  • Government Economist
  • Historical Researcher
  • Health Policy Planner
  • International Trade Specialist
  • Population Studies Analyst
  • Tax Economist
  • Transportation Planner
  • Bank Research Analyst
  • Business Credit/ Loan Administrator
  • Consumer Credit Manager
  • Research Analyst (Financial)*
  • Financial Researcher*
  • Investment Banking Analyst
  • Investment Counsellor*
  • Lobbyist*
  • Construction Estimator
  • Economist*
  • Editor*
  • Foreign Correspondent
  • Institutional Researcher
  • Journalist*
  • Lawyer*
  • Researcher*
  • Statistician*

Note: career profiles for many of the above jobs are available in the Career Centre. Those marked with an asterisk(*) can be viewed using Career Cruising, a Canadian electronic career guide available on CLN under the Resources tab (Career Centre Website 2016).

 

As an Economist in academia, you can:

  • Teach students the principles of economics
  • Conduct research within your field
  • Formulate new theories and explanations of how markets work (or don’t work!)

 

Economists also pursue careers in the corporate world.

Some exciting areas where economists can be found are:

  • Investment banks
  • Consultancies
  • Other corporations
  • Research firms
  • Major financial institutions
  • Financial advisories

 

The Public Sector is one of the major areas of work for Economists. They not only conduct cutting edge research for government think-tanks, but also do policy analysis and implementation.

Some exciting public institutions that hire Economists in Canada are:

  • Bank of Canada
  • Department of Finance
  • OSFI
  • Government Policy Analysis Institutions
  • Ministry of Ontario and other provinces

 

Note: For most of these careers, a Master’s degree doesn’t only give you an edge, but it may even be essential.