AITakeover Tracker
31%medium risk

Economists

Conduct research, prepare reports, or formulate plans to address economic problems related to the production and distribution of goods and services or monetary and fiscal policy. May collect and process economic and statistical data using sampling techniques and econometric methods.

Higher risk than 45% of occupations

AI Impact Summary

Economists faces moderate AI displacement risk with a score of 31/100. This occupation has higher AI displacement risk than 45% of all analyzed occupations. Of 13 analyzed tasks, 0 are highly automatable. Strong protective factors — including social intelligence, creativity, or regulatory barriers — significantly reduce effective risk.

Skill Impact Analysis

AI-Vulnerable Skills (6)

Mathematics10%

High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.

Mathematics10%

High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.

Reading Comprehension10%

High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.

Information Ordering5%

Information Ordering is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.

Memorization5%

Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.

Programming15%

Programming is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.

AI-Resistant Skills (11)

Complex Problem Solving75%

Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Adaptability/Flexibility85%

Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Instructing75%

Instructing is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Coordination70%

Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Persuasion80%

Persuasion is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Social Perceptiveness90%

Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Service Orientation82%

Service Orientation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Leadership88%

Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

AI-Augmented Skills (7)

Critical ThinkingWritingJudgment and Decision MakingActive LearningSystems AnalysisMonitoringTechnology Design

Recommended Courses

Courses matched to Economists skill gaps, ranked by relevance to your displacement risk profile.

Get personalized recommendations. Answer a few questions about your experience and skills to get course suggestions tailored specifically to you.

Upskill to Reduce Risk

Courses addressing your most AI-vulnerable skills

Courseraintermediate

Machine Learning Specialization

by Stanford / DeepLearning.AI

~10 weeks$49/mo4.9Certificate
Addresses vulnerability: Mathematics

Estimated Impact

-8.1pt risk+$7K/yr salary

AI-Augmentation Tools

Learn to work alongside AI and boost your productivity

Coursera

Creative Writing Specialization

by Wesleyan University

~8 weeks$49/mo4.7Certificate
Enhances AI augmentation: Writing

Estimated Impact

-5.6pt risk+$7K/yr salary

Strengthen Your Edge

Double down on skills AI can't replicate

Pluralsightadvanced

Design Patterns in C# and .NET

by Pluralsight

20 hours$29/mo4.6
Strengthens resilience: Complex Problem Solving

Estimated Impact

-2.2pt risk+$4K/yr salary

We may earn a commission when you enroll through our links, at no extra cost to you. This helps fund the Takeover Tracker.

Risk reduction and salary impact are estimates based on skill gap analysis, course relevance, and labor market data. Actual results vary by individual circumstance.

Education & Training

Percentage of workers at each education and training level

Education Level

Bachelor's Degree8%
Doctoral/Professional Degree29%
Level 104%
Level 1158%

Prior Experience Needed

Work experience required to enter this job

None38%
6 months - 1 year4%
1-2 years25%
2-4 years17%
4-6 years17%

Training Provided After Hiring

How long it typically takes to learn on the job

None42%
Up to 1 month13%
3-6 months17%
6 months - 1 year8%
1-2 years21%

How AI Impacts Each Task

13 tasks analyzed

Teach theories, principles, and methods of economics.

Risk: 29.0%AI: 35EstimatedTime: 10%

Study economic and statistical data in area of specialization, such as finance, labor, or agriculture.

Risk: 46.7%AI: 49.32ObservedTime: 15%

Conduct research on economic issues and disseminate research findings through technical reports or scientific articles in journals.

Risk: 48.7%AI: 54.17ObservedTime: 15%

Compile, analyze, and report data to explain economic phenomena and forecast market trends, applying mathematical models and statistical techniques.

Risk: 49.6%AI: 56.45ObservedTime: 15%

Study the socioeconomic impacts of new public policies, such as proposed legislation, taxes, services, and regulations.

Risk: 49.0%AI: 55EstimatedTime: 10%

Supervise research projects and students' study projects.

Risk: 38.3%AI: 58.15ObservedTime: 5%

Formulate recommendations, policies, or plans to solve economic problems or to interpret markets.

Risk: 51.0%AI: 60ObservedTime: 5%

Develop economic guidelines and standards and prepare points of view used in forecasting trends and formulating economic policy.

Risk: 47.0%AI: 50EstimatedTime: 5%

Provide advice and consultation on economic relationships to businesses, public and private agencies, and other employers.

Risk: 40.7%AI: 64.28ObservedTime: 5%

Forecast production and consumption of renewable resources and supply, consumption, and depletion of non-renewable resources.

Risk: 53.0%AI: 65EstimatedTime: 5%

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.

Risk: 19.0%AI: 10EstimatedTime: 3%

Provide litigation support, such as writing reports for expert testimony or testifying as an expert witness.

Risk: 47.0%AI: 50EstimatedTime: 2%

Explain economic impact of policies to the public.

Risk: 31.0%AI: 40EstimatedTime: 5%

Protective Factors

Total protective discount: 28.8%

Essential Soft Skills

Traits that are hard for AI to replicate

Analytical ThinkingAttention to DetailAchievement/EffortIntegrityInitiativePersistenceIndependenceInnovationDependabilityAdaptability/FlexibilitySelf ControlStress Tolerance

Wage & Employment (2024)

Median Wage

$115,440

per year

Mean Wage

$130,910

per year

Employment

16K

workers

Wage Range

$62,340 - $212,710

10th - 90th pct

Wage Distribution

$62,340Median: $115,440$212,710
Career Planning

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Alternate Career Paths

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Recommendations

Skills to Develop

These skills are at risk from AI automation. Economists professionals should diversify beyond them.

  • Mathematics

    High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.

  • Mathematics

    High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.

  • Reading Comprehension

    High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.

  • Information Ordering

    Information Ordering is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.

  • Memorization

    Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.

Skills to Leverage

These human-centric skills remain difficult for AI to replicate. Double down here.

  • Complex Problem Solving

    Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

  • Adaptability/Flexibility

    Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

  • Instructing

    Instructing is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

  • Coordination

    Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

  • Persuasion

    Persuasion is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Tools to Adopt

AI can amplify these skills. Learn the tools that augment rather than replace your work.

  • Critical Thinking

    Critical Thinking will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.

  • Writing

    Writing will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.

  • Judgment and Decision Making

    Judgment and Decision Making will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.

  • Active Learning

    Active Learning will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.

  • Systems Analysis

    Systems Analysis will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.

Score History

Risk score over 2 scoring runs

+0.3

overall change

Checking for existing plan...