What potential employers want most is someone with motivation, intelligence, and proven ability to work. Getting an economics degree shows that you have all of those qualities.
Economics graduates are employed in a range of posts which may, or may not, be related to the discipline they studied. They work in manufacturing, transport, communications, banking, insurance, investment and retailing industries, as well as in government agencies, consulting and charitable organisations.
In all these settings, employers value economics graduates' understanding of decision-making, their research and analytical skills, and their experience of viewing problems in their national and international context.
On most degree programmes, you will develop your learning, communication and self-management skills. Economics also helps you to develop problem-solving skills, and encourages you to become adept in numeracy, IT and the use of statistical methods. There may also be opportunities to foster team-working skills. The awareness of opportunity cost and the ability to interpret statistical evidence are especially important skills developed in the typical Economics programme.
Nearly two-thirds (63.9%) of economic graduates from 2002 were in employment six months after graduation. But what skills will an Economics degree teach you?
Useful careers resources:
jobs.ac.uk - the specialist jobsite for careers in academic, research, science and related professions. Thousands of jobs, free Jobs by Email service, specialist careers advice, blogs and much more.
The Graduate Recruitment Bureau (GRB) specialise in placing graduates into graduate jobs and advertising student jobs, internships, placements, gap years and courses.
Econ-Jobs.com - one of the best resources for graduating economists in the UK to find work. The Government Economic Service, DFID, CBI, ofgem, the UK Banks and major international organisations come to Econ-Jobs.com first when they are doing their graduate economist recruitment drive. It also provides students a good idea of which jobs in economics they can work towards.
