Economists
Official O*NET title: Economists (19-3011.00)
Also called: economic advisor, economic analyst, economic consultant, economic development specialist, economist
Do you do this at work?
Answer each card — it takes about a minute.
Do you do this at work?
Compile, analyze, and report data to explain economic phenomena and forecast market trends, applying mathematical models and statistical techniques
Swipe right for yes, left for not me. On a keyboard: → yes, ← not me, Z undo. +2 XP per answer.
How AI is changing economists work
5 of 10 measurable main tasks for this job show up in real AI-use data, so we rate it Red (lots of AI use) — 50%. 3 newer tasks are not in the data yet and left out.
This shows where people already use AI, not whether the job will disappear. How we measure this.
Tasks in this job and recorded AI use
- Compile, analyze, and report data to explain economic phenomena and forecast market trends, applying mathematical models and statistical techniques (main task) — a lot of recorded AI use
- Provide advice and consultation on economic relationships to businesses, public and private agencies, and other employers (main task) — a lot of recorded AI use
- Formulate recommendations, policies, or plans to solve economic problems or to interpret markets (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Conduct research on economic issues, and share research findings through technical reports or scientific articles in journals (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Study economic and statistical data in area of specialization (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Study the socioeconomic impacts of new public policies (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Explain economic impact of policies to the public (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Review documents written by others (main task) — too new for the AI data
- Supervise research projects and students' study projects (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Develop economic guidelines and standards, and prepare points of view used in forecasting trends and formulating economic policy (main task) — too new for the AI data
- Teach theories, principles, and methods of economics (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Testify at regulatory or legislative hearings concerning the estimated effects of changes in legislation or public policy, and present recommendations based on cost-benefit analyses (main task) — too new for the AI data
- Provide litigation support (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Forecast production and consumption of renewable resources and supply, consumption, and depletion of non-renewable resources — no recorded AI use
Tasks: O*NET 31.0. AI use: Anthropic Economic Index (exact or close text match).
Your first steps (guidance)
- Week 1: Open a free AI assistant and say hello. Follow our “Getting started with AI” guide. Ask it one simple question about your work.
- Week 2: Use AI on one task you do often. Try the prompt for: “Compile, analyze, and report data to explain economic phenomena and forecast market trends, applying mathematical models and statistical techniques”. Try the prompt for: “Provide advice and consultation on economic relationships to businesses, public and private agencies, and other employers”.
Tick your own tasks above to get a plan based on what you really do. The first 2 weeks are free; Premium (coming soon) adds weeks 3–12. New to AI? Read our beginner’s guide.
Questions about AI and economists
Will AI replace economists?
Our data can’t predict job losses, and we don’t try to. What it does show: 5 of the 13 main tasks for this job match tasks people already use AI for (Anthropic Economic Index), giving a Red rating (lots of AI use). Using AI on a task is not the same as AI doing the whole job, and 6 of the 14 listed tasks show no recorded AI use yet.
Which economist tasks is AI used for most?
In the data, the most AI use among this job’s tasks is for: compile, analyze, and report data to explain economic phenomena and forecast market trends, applying mathematical models and statistical techniques; provide advice and consultation on economic relationships to businesses, public and private agencies, and other employers; formulate recommendations, policies, or plans to solve economic problems or to interpret markets.
Which economist tasks show little or no AI use?
For example: study the socioeconomic impacts of new public policies; explain economic impact of policies to the public; supervise research projects and students' study projects. These are good places to keep building your own skills.
How does this job compare to others?
In Microsoft Research’s “Working with AI” study, this job’s AI applicability score is equal to or higher than 94% of the occupations they scored. That measures overlap with AI chat use, not risk of job loss.
How can a economist start learning AI?
Start small: open a free AI assistant, try it on one task you do often, and always check facts and numbers yourself. The plan on this page is guidance, not professional advice.
See how this job ranks
Economists ranks #122 of 572 jobs for the share of main tasks with AI use (#1 = most), and #10 of 45 in Science & Research.
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