- maths knowledge
- knowledge of economics and accounting
- analytical thinking skills
- excellent verbal communication skills
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- ambition and a desire to succeed
- excellent written communication skills
- the ability to think clearly using logic and reasoning
- the ability to read English
- to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
Your work will vary depending on whether you’re advising the government or business sector, but your day-to-day duties might include:
- researching information from computer databases, websites, journals and newspapers
- monitoring past and present economic issues and trends
- creating mathematical models to predict future economic developments
- analysing statistics
- writing reports and presenting findings
- examining the effectiveness of current policies
- advising on the potential economic impact of policies and ideas
You could work in an office or at a university.
With experience, you could progress to senior levels or become a self-employed freelance consultant.
You'll find more advice about working as an economist in the public sector through the Government Economic Service.