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

Career Details

19-3011.01 - Environmental Economists


Conduct economic analysis related to environmental protection and use of the natural environment, such as water, air, land, and renewable energy resources. Evaluate and quantify benefits, costs, incentives, and impacts of alternative options using economic principles and statistical techniques.


Key Facts
Expand or Shrink Accordion
Bright Outlook
1
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
  • Prepare and deliver presentations to communicate economic and environmental study results, to present policy recommendations, or to raise awareness of environmental consequences.
  • Monitor or analyze market and environmental trends.
  • Demonstrate or promote the economic benefits of sound environmental regulations.
  • Write technical documents or academic articles to communicate study results or economic forecasts.
  • Write social, legal, or economic impact statements to inform decision makers for natural resource policies, standards, or programs.
  • Write research proposals and grant applications to obtain private or public funding for environmental and economic studies.
  • Examine the exhaustibility of natural resources or the long-term costs of environmental rehabilitation.
  • Develop systems for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting environmental and economic data.
  • Develop environmental research project plans, including information on budgets, goals, deliverables, timelines, and resource requirements.
  • Develop economic models, forecasts, or scenarios to predict future economic and environmental outcomes.
  • Collect and analyze data to compare the environmental implications of economic policy or practice alternatives.
  • Perform complex, dynamic, and integrated mathematical modeling of ecological, environmental, or economic systems.
  • Conduct research to study the relationships among environmental problems and patterns of economic production and consumption.
  • Conduct research on economic and environmental topics, such as alternative fuel use, public and private land use, soil conservation, air and water pollution control, and endangered species protection.
  • Develop programs or policy recommendations to achieve environmental goals in cost-effective ways.
  • Assess the costs and benefits of various activities, policies, or regulations that affect the environment or natural resource stocks.
  • Develop programs or policy recommendations to promote sustainability and sustainable development.
  • Teach courses in environmental economics.
Supplemental
  • Interpret indicators to ascertain the overall health of an environment.
  • Identify and recommend environmentally friendly business practices.
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
  • 93%
    Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
 Economics and Accounting
  • 88%
    Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
 English Language
  • 79%
    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
  • 74%
    Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
 Education and Training
  • 64%
    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
  • 61%
    Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
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.
 Computer data input devices
  • Computer data input scanners
 Computers
  • Desktop computers
  • Laptop computers
  • Mainframe 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
  • General algebraic modeling system GAMS
  • Global Insight AREMOS
  • IBM SPSS StatisticsHOT
  • Insightful S-PLUS
  • MinitabHOT
  • Quantitative Micro Software EViews
  • SASHOT
  • StataCorp Stata
  • The MathWorks MATLABHOT
  • Wolfram Research Mathematica
 Development software
  • C
  • C++HOT
  • Formula translation/translator FORTRAN
  • Microsoft Visual BasicHOT
  • Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications VBAHOT
  • Microsoft Visual C#
  • PythonHOT
 Information exchange software
  • ESRI ArcGIS softwareHOT
  • Geographic information system GIS softwareHOT
  • Microsoft OutlookHOT
 Data management and query software
  • Microsoft AccessHOT
  • Microsoft SQL ServerHOT
  • MySQLHOT
  • Structure query language SQL
  • TableauHOT
 Content authoring and editing software
  • Microsoft ExcelHOT
  • Microsoft PowerPointHOT
  • Microsoft WordHOT
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.
 Specialty
 Advanced
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