THE CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
Economics as a career choice provides many employment opportunities. Economists can be found working in all sectors of the economy, from government, banking, and private industry to international organizations and nonprofit institutions. Employment as an economist at the state and local level allows economists to apply their skills in areas such as forecasting growth, developing training programs for displaced workers, and aiding in establishing economic development plans for the regional economy. Business economists typically provide firms with forecasts of future economic conditions, which are in turn used to help guide the planning and budgeting decisions firms make.
THE EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOK
The employment outlook for economists through the year 2000, according to the Department of Labor, is very good. The projected employment increase between 20 and 30 percent, which is faster than the average U.S. employment increase for this time span. Areas most likely to see an increased demand for economists include management consulting firms, manufacturing, advertising agencies, secondary school teachers, health care, government and financial service industries. Earnings for economists will continue to be strong. Weekly earnings for economists in a 1998 BLS study placed this occupation 17th out of the top 250 occupational earnings according to the Department of Labor. In a study by The USA today , earnings for economics majors scored in the top 5.
Jobs for Economics Majors:
| Research Assistantships at the Federal Reserve Board | Resources For the Future |
| Research Assistantships at the International Monetary Fund | Job Trak |