Career Details
Career Details
Use this dropdown to update your zip code
Back to top

Career Details

19-3011.00 - Economists


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.


Key Facts
Expand or Shrink Accordion
Bright Outlook
Career Details
Green Job
Career Details
Current Employment
21,500
Estimate
Forecasted Employment
22,700
Estimate
Change in Employment
+1,200
Estimate
Change in Employment %
+5.7%
Estimate
Tasks
Expand or Shrink Accordion
Tasks
The tasks listed below can be performed to prepare you for a career in this field.
Core
  • Study economic and statistical data in area of specialization, such as finance, labor, or agriculture.
  • Provide advice and consultation on economic relationships to businesses, public and private agencies, and other employers.
  • Compile, analyze, and report data to explain economic phenomena and forecast market trends, applying mathematical models and statistical techniques.
  • Formulate recommendations, policies, or plans to solve economic problems or to interpret markets.
  • Develop economic guidelines and standards, and prepare points of view used in forecasting trends and formulating economic policy.
  • Supervise research projects and students' study projects.
  • Forecast production and consumption of renewable resources and supply, consumption, and depletion of non-renewable resources.
  • Teach theories, principles, and methods of economics.
  • Study the socioeconomic impacts of new public policies, such as proposed legislation, taxes, services, and regulations.
  • Conduct research on economic issues, and disseminate research findings through technical reports or scientific articles in journals.
  • Explain economic impact of policies to the public.
Supplemental
  • Testify at regulatory or legislative hearings concerning the estimated effects of changes in legislation or public policy, and present recommendations based on cost-benefit analyses.
  • Provide litigation support, such as writing reports for expert testimony or testifying as an expert witness.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Knowledge
Expand or Shrink Accordion
Knowledge

The items listed below are organized into sections that contain knowledge useful for pursuing a career in this field. Each section also contains a "Percentage of Importance" statistic that shows how relevant an item is to the occupation.
 Mathematics
  • 91%
    Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
 Economics and Accounting
  • 90%
    Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
 English Language
  • 86%
    Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
 Computers and Electronics
  • 71%
    Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
 Education and Training
  • 61%
    Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
 Law and Government
  • 56%
    Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
 Administration and Management
  • 51%
    Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Tools
Expand or Shrink Accordion
Tools
The tools listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Computers
  • Desktop computers
  • Laptop computers
  • Maintrame computers
  • Personal computers
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Technology
Expand or Shrink Accordion
Technology
The technologies listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Industry specific software
  • Aptech Systems GAUSS
  • Camfit Data Limited Microfit
  • Econometric Software LIMDEP
  • Estima Regression Analysis of Time Series RATS
  • Estimates Delivery System EDS
  • Global Insight AREMOS
  • IBM SPSS StatisticsHOT
  • Insightful S-PLUS
  • MacKichan Software Scientific Notebook
  • Maplesoft Maple
  • Mathsoft Mathcad
  • MinitabHOT
  • Quantitative Micro Software EViews
  • SASHOT
  • StataCorp Stata
  • The MathWorks MATLABHOT
  • Timberlake Consultants OxMetrics
  • TreeAge Software TreeAge Pro
  • Wolfram Research Mathematica
 Development software
  • C++HOT
  • Formula translation/translator FORTRAN
  • Microsoft Visual BasicHOT
  • Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications VBAHOT
  • Microsoft Visual C# .NET
  • Oracle JavaHOT
  • PythonHOT
  • RHOT
 Content authoring and editing software
  • Corel QuattroPro
  • IBM Lotus 1-2-3
  • LaTeX
  • MediaWiki
  • Microsoft ExcelHOT
  • Microsoft PowerPointHOT
  • Microsoft WordHOT
 Business function specific software
  • Corel WordPerfect Office Suite
  • Microsoft OfficeHOT
 Information exchange software
  • ESRI ArcView
  • Microsoft OutlookHOT
 Data management and query software
  • Microsoft AccessHOT
  • Microsoft SQL ServerHOT
  • MySQLHOT
  • Structured query language SQLHOT
  • Teradata DatabaseHOT
 Network applications software
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer
  • Mozilla Firefox
  • Web browser software
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Certifications
Expand or Shrink Accordion
Certifications
The certifications listed below are useful to pursue if you are interested in a career in this field.
 Advanced
 Core
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Licensing
Expand or Shrink Accordion
Licensing
The licensing information below is organized into sections and is useful for pursuing if you are interested in a career in this field.
No specific licensing information is listed for this occupation in the area you have selected.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Related Programs
Expand or Shrink Accordion
Online Programs related to this career, offered by participating institution(s), are listed below.

Clicking on the Degree programs in the list below will take you away from the Careers page.
INSTITUTION
PROGRAMS
Brightpoint Community College
Eastern Shore Community College
Germanna Community College
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College
Laurel Ridge Community College
Mountain Gateway Community College
Northern Virginia Community College
Paul D. Camp Community College
Rappahannock Community College
Southside Virginia Community College
Tidewater Community College
Virginia Peninsula Community College
Virginia Western Community College
Wytheville Community College