Career Planning
Analytical skills, a strong quantitative background, and clarity and precision of expression are qualities developed in the economics major. Additionally, knowledge of the operations of a complex economic system and its institutions provides skills applicable to a wide variety of job responsibilities in a number of occupational areas.
The skills listed below are representative of those acquired from the study of economics, and may be applied in various occupations. For example, an investment banker, a technical writer, and an urban planner might use analytical thinking skills on a daily basis, although for different purposes.
For more information, check out the Bureau of Labor Statistics Report on the Economics Profession.
- Financial
- Maintaining accurate records
- Tabulating figures
- Manipulating numerical data
- Developing budgets
- Performing cost/benefit analyses
- Creating and evaluating financial reports
- Research/Analysis
- Designing projects
- Generating/developing ideas
- Organizing materials
- Computing data
- Analyzing results
- Testing an idea/hypotheses
- Using computers
- Applying statistical methods
- Communication
- Writing reports/articles
- Summarizing
- Writing proposals
- Justifying a position
- Reading and interpreting reports
- Speaking persuasively
- Explaining ideas/goals
- Problem Solving
- Assessing needs
- Defining problems
- Reviewing/evaluating goals
- Relating theory to practice
- Projecting/forecasting results
- Applying quantitative analysis
- Generating solutions
- Evaluating policies