We surveyed 3,198 economists to better understand the work environment and required skills of a typical economist. Here are the results.

How much intelligence is required as an economist?

Low

High

Working as an economist typically requires higher levels of intelligence when compared with the average career. This means that economists are required to actively learn new things related to their discipline and solve complex problems.

Can I learn to become an economist?

Intrinsic Talent

Acquired Talent

A career as an economist typically depends predominantly on qualities you’re born with, with a small aspect of skills you can learn.

Is it easy to get a job as an economist?

Easy

Hard

It’s typically difficult to find a job as an economist. If you’re curious about the numbers, check out the job market for economists.

Info

Do economists work full-time or part-time?

83% of economists work in full-time roles while 17% work part-time.

Is being an economist stressful?

Low

High

Economists tend not to find their jobs stressful, which likely contributes positively to career satisfaction.

Is being organized important as an economist?

Low

High

Some level of organization is generally required to be an economist.

How competitive is the workplace for economists?

Low

High

Economists see mild competition in their workplace.

Does being an economist require frequent time pressure to complete tasks?

Low

High

Time pressure tends not to be a major contributor of stress for economists.

Are economists allowed to express themselves creatively?

Low

High

Economists rarely get a chance to express themselves creatively.

Do economists have control over the direction of their work?

Low

High

While sometimes the direction is set, occasionally economists will have some flexibility over the direction of their work.

Is being an economist physically demanding?

Low

High

Work as an economists is rarely physically demanding, making it a suitable option for those unable to perform physically strenuous tasks.

Are economists exposed to a wide variety of work?

Low

High

Economists tend to have a monotonous work routine, with little variety in their day-to-day tasks.

Does being an economist require attention to detail?

Low

High

As in many careers, attention to detail is quite helpful for economists.

Does being a good economist require compassion and empathy?

Low

High

The ability to be compassion and empathetic isn't considered fundamental to success as an economist.