The Job Outlook for Economists within the US

Being (or changing into!) an economist in all probability looks as if a good suggestion. In any case, you’re studying the INOMICS Weblog! Past studying related recommendation and fascinating articles, it may be useful to have actual knowledge to reply questions in regards to the job marketplace for economists.

Are economists in demand? Is it a good suggestion to pursue a Grasp’s diploma or Ph.D. in economics proper now? Should you’re pondering questions like these, excellent news. In as we speak’s world, the solutions seem like “sure”, and “sure”, respectively.

This text will study progress in economics jobs within the US utilizing Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) knowledge along with our personal knowledge from the 2022 INOMICS Wage Report. If you need to anonymously assist INOMICS proceed to study in regards to the economics job market, and empower economists to make knowledgeable profession selections, we implore you to take 3-5 minutes to reply our nameless Wage Survey.

Job progress for economist roles within the US

The US BLS publishes job outlooks for numerous careers, exhibiting how demand for these jobs is anticipated to vary within the US over time. This knowledge offers a way of the long run progress of economist roles, and will help economics college students get an concept of the job alternatives they will anticipate. Though this text dives into US knowledge, these findings may be considered an indicator for different areas with comparable socioeconomic profiles because the US, too.

Final up to date on September 6, 2023¹, the BLS studies that the variety of positions for economists from 2022 by 2032 is anticipated to develop at a price of 6% over the last decade. That is roughly twice as quick because the economy-wide common; the BLS states that “The common progress price for all occupations is 3 p.c”. Economist job progress additionally beats out job progress in different social sciences, that are projected to develop at 5%.

The information reveals that there are presently about 17,600 economists employed in non-academic roles within the US. 6% job progress signifies that by 2032, the BLS expects there to be about 18,650 non-academic economists employed within the US (although in addition they venture 1,100 new positions, which might characterize a 6.5% enhance).

Equally, the BLS estimates that there are 11,640 economics school positions within the US as of Could 2022. A job progress estimate for economics professors is just not given. Nevertheless, using previous BLS knowledge will help us study the pattern and study extra. Desk 1 beneath information the variety of economics postsecondary instructing positions within the US in accordance with previous BLS knowledge.

Desk 1: Employment numbers for US economics school

It’s tough to guage how economics school positions will evolve within the US over time based mostly on Desk 1 alone. These positions seem like on a slight downward pattern over time. It’s extremely seemingly that the pandemic decreased job alternatives at universities, the most important employer of economists (see Desk 4). Additional, Inside Greater Ed reported in July 2022 that school had been leaving their positions at excessive charges through the so-called “Nice Resignation”, which can have impacted the business.

However, this slight downward pattern in economics school mirrors a slight downward pattern in postsecondary school positions within the US throughout all disciplines for the reason that pandemic. And, it’s seemingly that growing demand for business economists will enhance demand for each economics analysis and economics levels. Each of those elements enhance demand for economics professors, who conduct analysis and prepare new economists.

General, the variety of business economist jobs is growing and is anticipated to proceed growing quicker than common. In the meantime, economist jobs in academia have declined considerably for the reason that pandemic.

Employment and Wages for economists within the US

A notice – the BLS makes use of the phrases “Economists” and “Economics Lecturers, Postsecondary” to explain economists employed exterior of academia and inside it, respectively. Within the following tables, I time period these “Trade Economists” and “Educational Economists” to align with different articles on INOMICS, and our personal wage studies. Desk 2 beneath summarizes the BLS knowledge on the variety of business and tutorial economist positions, in addition to the imply annual wages for each^1,2.

Desk 2: Employment and wages for US economists in 2022

Desk 2 reveals that the imply annual wages are comparable (and fairly excessive) for each business and tutorial economists. As a comparability, 2022 INOMICS Wage Report knowledge discovered common pay for US economists at $136,650. Nevertheless, we all know that these easy averages masks some nuance.

INOMICS Wage report knowledge present that business economists are inclined to out-earn tutorial economists, aside from when tutorial economists are promoted to full professor. This promotion grants them a wage akin to high executives in business.

For a extra detailed take a look at the breakdown of common economist salaries world wide, see the 2022 INOMICS Wage Report. And, be looking out for the 2023 Wage Report, which you’ll nonetheless help by answering our nameless Wage Survey.

Desk 3 examines wages by percentile as properly, for a extra holistic evaluation^1,2,3:

Desk 3: Percentile wage estimates for Economists and Economics Professors in 2022 (BLS knowledge):

Desk 3 reveals that median economist salaries are decrease than common salaries within the US. Because of this high-earning economists convey up the typical, in order that the distribution of economist salaries within the US is right-skewed. Evidently extremely skilled economists, whether or not in business or academia, command very excessive salaries within the US – one other signal that extremely expert economists are in demand.

The BLS knowledge additionally helps the INOMICS Wage Survey findings that business economists are inclined to out-earn their tutorial friends by the center of their careers, till tutorial economists earn the rank of full professor, the place they earn salaries akin to high executives in business.

Excessive demand for economists will make it simpler for economics graduates to search out work, and can seemingly push up the wages that skilled economists can take pleasure in. Thus, economics stays a sensible and eminently employable area of research. However, who precisely shall be hiring these economists?

Trade breakdown of economists employed within the US in comparison with the world

Economist jobs are additional damaged down by class within the BLS knowledge. Desk 4 reproduces a few of this knowledge taken from the BLS^2,3:

Desk 4: Economist Employment Estimates (BLS knowledge):

_{*This class consolidates the BLS’s “Nondepository Credit score Intermediation”, “Authorized Companies”, and “Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Companies” classes.}

The BLS knowledge reveals that universities are the most important employers of economists within the US by a major margin. The federal authorities is one other main employer, adopted by administration and technical consulting corporations. Different employers of economists embody junior faculties (faculties that grant affiliate’s levels or different certifications that aren’t Bachelor’s levels), analysis institutes, native and state governments, and different companies.

Worldwide INOMICS knowledge may be in contrast with US-only BLS knowledge to get a way of how consultant the US knowledge could also be of economics careers worldwide. Though the employer classes are totally different, it seems that each units of knowledge include related proportions of economists in authorities, tutorial, and business roles.

55% of the worldwide 2022 INOMICS Wage Report respondents had been employed at a college, in comparison with the BLS’ 48.3% (discovered by summing the Universities and Junior Schools classes). Academia is the most important employer of economists world wide, although it seems to be much less so in america.

13% of Wage Survey respondents had been employed in personal companies, whereas 16.5% of economists within the US had been employed in personal companies (discovered by summing “Different Companies”, “Enterprise, Skilled, Labor, Political, and Related Organizations”, and “Administration, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Companies”).

There are some variations as properly. 5% of worldwide Wage Survey respondents had been employed in a Central Financial institution, whereas simply over 1% of economists within the US are employed by the US central banking system. In distinction, whereas 25.25% of economists within the US had been employed in federal or state governments, solely 11% of Wage Survey respondents labored for a authorities.

The comparability reveals that US employment numbers might understate the provision of central financial institution and academia roles and overstate the provision of presidency roles worldwide. Nonetheless, the proportions of economists in numerous roles within the US seems pretty consultant.

For regional breakdowns of economist employment throughout the US, see the BLS’s web site^2,3.

Assist extra analysis into economist careers

If this info is beneficial to you, please take a few minutes to finish the (nameless) INOMICS Wage Survey. We use these responses to check the job marketplace for economists and assist present and future economists make knowledgeable profession selections. Filling out the survey takes only some minutes, and also you’ll obtain a duplicate as quickly because the Wage Report is revealed.

^References

<sup>1: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/economists.htm

2: https://www.bls.gov/oes/present/oes193011.htm

3: https://www.bls.gov/oes/present/oes251063.htm#nat</sup>

^{Header picture credit score: Freepik.de.}