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How an economist can use AI, task by task

O*NET 19-3011.00: EconomistsMedian pay $124,720/year (BLS, May 2025)14 tasksJob Zone 5: Extensive preparation

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.

Type your own title and every prompt on this page updates to match. Also called: Economic Advisor, Economic Analyst, Economic Consultant, Economic Development Specialist, Economist, Forensic Economist, Project Economist, Research Economist, Revenue Research Analyst, Tax Economist.

Where AI fits in this job

AI-ready 33%AI-assist 53%Stays human 14%

Share of the job's tasks, weighted by how important and how frequent each task is (O*NET ratings). 4 AI-ready, 7 AI-assist and 3 human-led tasks out of 14. This measures where AI can help, not whether the job will disappear.

Information & paperwork
Thinking & planning
People & communication
Leading & teaching
Hands-on & physical

Shape of the job: importance of each kind of work activity (O*NET, 1 to 5).

AI can draft these 4

AI produces a usable first pass. You review it, fix it and own it.

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

Daily

AI is a patient tutor for new rules and techniques.

Show prompt & steps

AI is a patient personal tutor. It explains new rules, techniques and technology at your level, quizzes you and builds a study plan.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as an economist. Part of my job is to study economic and statistical data in area of specialization, such as finance, labor, or agriculture.

Context: The work draws on economics and accounting, mathematics and computers and electronics.
Field: [my area]
What I need: [new methods, recent findings, specific question]

Act as my tutor: explain the main recent developments, key papers to look up, and quiz me with 5 questions one at a time. I'll verify every paper exists.

10-minute exercise: Literature catch-up

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you study economic and statistical data (today).
Step 2Fill in [Field] and [What I need] with the real details, then run the prompt.
Step 3Look up two of the papers it names and read the abstracts.

AI's knowledge has a cutoff date. For new regulations and standards, always confirm against the official source.

Double-check every number. AI can make arithmetic and rounding mistakes.

Importance 4.6/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Review professional literature to maintain professional knowledge..

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

Weekly

AI writes the first draft from your notes; you check every fact.

📊 Real AI use (Anthropic Economic Index, Apr 2026 to May 2026): AI completed the task directly in 52% of those conversations; the rest were back-and-forth with the person.

Show prompt & steps

Give AI your rough notes, numbers or last version and it will turn them into a clean, well-structured first draft. You check every fact and figure before it goes anywhere.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as an economist. Part of my job is to compile, analyze, and report data to explain economic phenomena and forecast market trends, applying mathematical models and statistical techniques.

Context: We use Microsoft Word.
Here's what I have for the data to explain economic phenomena and forecast market: [rough notes, the facts, figures and decisions behind it]

Write a clear first draft that I can check and finish. Keep it [one page / short / formal], laid out so I can paste it into Microsoft Word. Use headings if they help, and mark anything you had to guess with [CHECK].

10-minute exercise: Draft the data to explain economic phenomena and forecast market

Step 1Pull up the last data to explain economic phenomena and forecast market you did, or jot 5 rough bullets for the next one.
Step 2Paste the prompt and put those bullets in [rough notes]. Pick the length in [one page / short / formal] to match what goes into Microsoft Word.
Step 3Fix every [CHECK] against your source and anything else that's wrong, then compare the time with writing the data to explain economic phenomena and forecast market from scratch.

AI will happily make up numbers, names and dates. Every fact in the draft needs checking against your source.

Importance 4.2/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Forecast economic, political, or social trends..

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

Monthly

AI writes the first draft from your notes; you check every fact.

Show prompt & steps

Give AI your rough notes, numbers or last version and it will turn them into a clean, well-structured first draft. You check every fact and figure before it goes anywhere.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as an economist. Part of my job is to develop economic guidelines and standards, and prepare points of view used in forecasting trends and formulating economic policy.

Context: We use Microsoft Word.
Area: [department, food production]
Requirements: [rules, safety]

Draft standards and procedures. Use plain language and headings where they help, and mark anything you had to guess with [CHECK].

10-minute exercise: Standards document

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you develop economic guidelines and standards.
Step 2Fill in [Area] and [Requirements] with the real details, then run the prompt.
Step 3Review with staff and regulators as needed.

AI will happily make up numbers, names and dates. Every fact in the draft needs checking against your source.

Importance 3.8/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Establish standards for products, processes, or procedures..

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

A few times a year

AI finds trends and writes the spreadsheet formulas.

Show prompt & steps

Paste a spreadsheet or table and ask AI to find trends, outliers and totals, or to write the formula you need. It's like having an analyst on call.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as an economist. Part of my job is to forecast production and consumption of renewable resources and supply, consumption, and depletion of non-renewable resources.

Context: We use Tableau and Microsoft Power BI; the work draws on economics and accounting, mathematics and computers and electronics.
What to forecast: [values, trends]
Data: [paste history]

Build a forecast with assumptions and formulas. Show your working step by step and give spreadsheet formulas so I can reproduce the numbers.

10-minute exercise: Forecast

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you forecast production and consumption of renewable resources and supply.
Step 2Fill in [What to forecast] and [Data] with the real details, then run the prompt.
Step 3Recompute the most important number yourself before you trust the rest.

AI makes arithmetic mistakes. Recompute anything that matters with a spreadsheet formula.

Importance 2.8/5 · O*NET work activity: Forecast economic, political, or social trends..

AI can help you prep these 7

AI speeds up the prep, drafting or thinking. The core of the task is still yours.

Review documents written by others.

Weekly

AI gives you a first-pass summary; you still read the key parts.

📊 Real AI use (Anthropic Economic Index, Apr 2026 to May 2026): AI completed the task directly in 25% of those conversations; the rest were back-and-forth with the person. This label was updated from real usage data.

Show prompt & steps

AI can pull out the key points and questions to look for. Use it as a first pass, then look closely yourself.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as an economist. Part of my job is to review documents written by others.

Context: The work draws on economics and accounting, mathematics and computers and electronics.
Documents: [paste the specs, schedules, orders or system charts]
My goal: [what work I need to plan or approve]

Pull out the requirements, dependencies and deadlines, then propose a work sequence. List conflicts or gaps between documents and the questions to resolve before approval.

10-minute exercise: Plan work from technical documents

Step 1Choose a plan or approval you're working on now.
Step 2Paste the source material into [Documents] and state [My goal].
Step 3Check the conflicts it found against the originals. Raise the real ones before you sign off.

Remove names and private details before pasting, and check your employer's rules on what you can share with AI tools.

Importance 4.0/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Review technical documents to plan work.. Also involves: Proofread documents, records, or other files to ensure accuracy..

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

Weekly

AI helps you prepare clearer wording and likely questions.

📊 Real AI use (Anthropic Economic Index, Apr 2026 to May 2026): AI completed the task directly in 32% of those conversations; the rest were back-and-forth with the person.

Show prompt & steps

Use AI to prepare: simpler wording, analogies, likely questions and a one-page handout. The conversation itself is yours.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as an economist. Part of my job is to provide advice and consultation on economic relationships to businesses, public and private agencies, and other employers.

Context: The work draws on economics and accounting, mathematics and computers and electronics.
Issue: [market, operations, policy]
Audience: [groups, dealers]

Write advice with reasons. Use plain language, one everyday analogy, and the questions people are most likely to ask with short answers.

10-minute exercise: Business advice

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you provide advice and consultation (this week).
Step 2Fill in [Issue] and [Audience] with the real details, then run the prompt.
Step 3Check every answer is right for your workplace before you share it.

Rules, prices and policies change. Make sure AI is working from your current official version.

Importance 4.0/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Advise others on business or operational matters..

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

Monthly

AI helps you prepare clearer wording and likely questions.

Show prompt & steps

Use AI to prepare: simpler wording, analogies, likely questions and a one-page handout. The conversation itself is yours.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as an economist. Part of my job is to formulate recommendations, policies, or plans to solve economic problems or to interpret markets.

Context: The work draws on economics and accounting, mathematics and computers and electronics.
Issue: [environment, climate, other]
Audience: [policymakers]

Write a short brief with options and recommendation. Use plain language, one everyday analogy, and the questions people are most likely to ask with short answers.

10-minute exercise: Policy advice

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you formulate recommendations, policies and plans.
Step 2Fill in [Issue] and [Audience] with the real details, then run the prompt.
Step 3Check every answer is right for your workplace before you share it.

Rules, prices and policies change. Make sure AI is working from your current official version.

Importance 3.9/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Advise others on matters of public policy..

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

Monthly

AI gets you up to speed; confirm findings with records or people.

Show prompt & steps

AI can get you up to speed fast and suggest where to look, but you need to confirm findings against real sources, records or people.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as an economist. Part of my job is to study the socioeconomic impacts of new public policies, such as proposed legislation, taxes, services, and regulations.

Context: We use Wolfram Research Mathematica and SAS; the work draws on economics and accounting, mathematics and computers and electronics.
Issue: [describe]
Why I need it: [policy, program, decision]

Give me key facts, competing views, data sources to verify, and research questions worth pursuing. Give sources I can check and say clearly when you're unsure.

10-minute exercise: Social issue brief

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you study the socioeconomic impacts of new public policies.
Step 2Fill in [Issue] and [Why I need it] with the real details, then run the prompt.
Step 3Check the key facts in an official data source.

AI can invent sources and citations. Open every link and confirm it says what the AI claims.

Rules and regulations vary by place and change often. Confirm against the official source before relying on anything.

Importance 4.2/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Conduct research on social issues..

Explain economic impact of policies to the public.

Monthly

AI helps you prepare clearer wording and likely questions.

📊 Real AI use (Anthropic Economic Index, Apr 2026 to May 2026): AI completed the task directly in 22% of those conversations; the rest were back-and-forth with the person.

Show prompt & steps

Use AI to prepare: simpler wording, analogies, likely questions and a one-page handout. The conversation itself is yours.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as an economist. Part of my job is to explain economic impact of policies to the public.

Context: The work draws on economics and accounting, mathematics and computers and electronics.
Rules or regulations: [paste]
Who needs to understand: [customers, employers, individuals]

Write a plain-language version, examples and common questions. Use plain language, one everyday analogy, and the questions people are most likely to ask with short answers.

10-minute exercise: Explain the rules

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you explain economic impact of policies.
Step 2Fill in [Rules or regulations] and [Who needs to understand] with the real details, then run the prompt.
Step 3Check it doesn't change the meaning of the rules.

Rules, prices and policies change. Make sure AI is working from your current official version.

Importance 4.0/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Explain regulations, policies, or procedures.. Also involves: Present information to the public..

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

Monthly

AI helps you prepare clearer wording and likely questions.

Show prompt & steps

Use AI to prepare: simpler wording, analogies, likely questions and a one-page handout. The conversation itself is yours.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as an economist. Part of my job is to conduct research on economic issues, and disseminate research findings through technical reports or scientific articles in journals.

Context: We use SAS and IBM SPSS Statistics; the work draws on economics and accounting, mathematics and computers and electronics.
Topic: [status, results, fixes]
Audience: [customers, staff]
Notes: [paste]

Draft slides outline and speaker notes. Use plain language, one everyday analogy, and the questions people are most likely to ask with short answers.

10-minute exercise: Technical presentation

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you conduct research on economic issues.
Step 2Fill in [Topic], [Audience] and [Notes] with the real details, then run the prompt.
Step 3Check every answer is right for your workplace before you share it.

Rules, prices and policies change. Make sure AI is working from your current official version.

Importance 3.8/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Prepare scientific or technical reports or presentations..

Teach theories, principles, and methods of economics.

Monthly

AI preps the materials; reading the room is you.

Show prompt & steps

AI preps the materials: lesson outlines, quizzes, examples, practice scenarios. Reading the room and coaching people is still you.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as an economist. Part of my job is to teach theories, principles, and methods of economics.

Context: We use Microsoft PowerPoint; the work draws on economics and accounting, mathematics and computers and electronics.
Topic: [theory, method]
Students: [level]

Plan a class with readings, discussion and assessment. Include timings, a realistic practice scenario from my work, and a short check for understanding with answers.

10-minute exercise: Humanities or social science class

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you teach theories, principles and methods of economics.
Step 2Fill in [Topic] and [Students] with the real details, then run the prompt.
Step 3Swap one AI example for a real story from your own work. Real stories are what people remember.

Check that every procedure in the material matches your workplace's actual standards.

Importance 3.5/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Instruct college students in social sciences or humanities disciplines..

These stay human 3

They need your hands, your presence or your accountable judgment. Lean into them: they get more valuable as routine work is automated.

📏 Measured in this job (O*NET work context): Face-to-face discussions: once a week or more but not every day · Frequency of decisions: once a week or more but not every day · Contact with others: contact with others most of the time

Supervise research projects and students' study projects.

Weekly

Leading people runs on trust. AI can prep the paperwork around it.

Show prep prompt & steps

Where AI still helps: AI can prep the paperwork around leading: meeting agendas, feedback drafts, rotas, briefings and difficult-conversation rehearsals.

Prep prompt

I work as an economist. Part of my job is to supervise research projects and students' study projects.

Context: The work draws on economics and accounting, mathematics and computers and electronics.
Trainees: [students, interns]
Goal: [skills, project]

Plan supervision meetings, feedback and assessment. Give me the key message in 2 sentences, how people might react, and how to respond to each.

10-minute exercise: Supervising trainees

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you supervise research projects and students' study projects (this week). Leave out names and identifying details.
Step 2Fill in [Trainees] and [Goal] with the real details, then run the prompt.
Step 3Give feedback within a day of observing.

Importance 3.8/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Supervise trainees..

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

A few times a year

Human connection. Use AI only before and after, to prepare.

Show prep prompt & steps

Where AI still helps: Use AI before and after, not during. Prepare talking points, practise a hard conversation, or turn your notes into a follow-up.

Prep prompt

I work as an economist. Part of my job is to provide litigation support, such as writing reports for expert testimony or testifying as an expert witness.

Context: The work draws on economics and accounting, mathematics and computers and electronics.
Proceeding: [court, hearing, legislative]
Topic: [findings, violations, investigation]

Help me prepare: key facts in order, likely questions including hostile ones, and how to answer calmly and only within my knowledge. Then cross-examine me.

10-minute exercise: Testimony prep

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you provide litigation support.
Step 2Fill in [Proceeding] and [Topic] with the real details, then run the prompt.
Step 3Review with counsel and stick strictly to facts you can support.

Importance 3.2/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Testify at legal or legislative proceedings.. Also involves: Prepare scientific or technical reports or presentations..

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.

A few times a year

Human connection. Use AI only before and after, to prepare.

Show prep prompt & steps

Where AI still helps: Use AI before and after, not during. Prepare talking points, practise a hard conversation, or turn your notes into a follow-up.

Prep prompt

I work as an economist. Part of my job is to 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.

Context: The work draws on economics and accounting, mathematics and computers and electronics.
Proceeding: [court, hearing, legislative]
Topic: [findings, violations, investigation]

Help me prepare: key facts in order, likely questions including hostile ones, and how to answer calmly and only within my knowledge. Then cross-examine me.

10-minute exercise: Testimony prep

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you testify at regulatory or legislative hearings concerning the estimated effects.
Step 2Fill in [Proceeding] and [Topic] with the real details, then run the prompt.
Step 3Review with counsel and stick strictly to facts you can support. Confirm the rules against the current official source.

Rules and regulations vary by place and change often. Confirm against the official source before relying on anything.

Importance 3.3/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Testify at legal or legislative proceedings..

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Your next moves

Skills to build

From O*NET's ratings of how important each skill is in this job, matched to which part of the work it supports.

Stays human Deepen these

They power the human-led work, which is the part of the job AI can't take over.

  • Management of Personnel Resourcesimportance 2.5/5
    Used in: Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates

With AI Use these to work with AI

When AI does the first draft, these are the skills you use to brief it and check what comes back.

  • Reading Comprehensionimportance 4.1/5
    Used in: Getting Information
  • Critical Thinkingimportance 4.1/5
    Used in: Getting Information
  • Active Listeningimportance 4.0/5
    Used in: Getting Information
  • Writingimportance 4.0/5
    Used in: Providing Consultation and Advice to Others

Where you could move

Related jobs from O*NET with the closest skill profile, favouring ones where more of the work stays human. No step down in preparation.

  • Economics Teachers, Postsecondary25% human-led · Same preparation · $123,920/yr · usually doctoral degreeSkills to build: Instructing, Social Perceptiveness
  • Investment Fund Managers5% human-led · Same preparation · $166,570/yr · usually master's degreeSkills to build: Negotiation, Time Management
  • Political Scientists17% human-led · Same preparation · $142,080/yr · usually doctoral degreeSkills to build: Social Perceptiveness, Active Listening
  • Financial Quantitative Analysts0% human-led · Same preparation · $81,100/yr · usually master's degreeSkills to build: Mathematics

New tasks appearing in this job

O*NET has started tracking 3 new or updated tasks here: 1 AI-ready, 2 AI-assist, 0 stays human. They have no worker ratings yet, so they aren't counted in the bar above.

Construct and manage economic datasets.

New in O*NET

AI does the arithmetic and suggests what to look at; the conclusions are yours.

Show prompt & steps

AI can do the arithmetic, build the spreadsheet formula and suggest what to look at. Deciding what the numbers mean for your situation is still you.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as an economist. Part of my job is to construct and manage economic datasets.

Context: We use Tableau and Microsoft Power BI.
Here is my data on economic datasets: [paste a table, or list the columns you export from Tableau or Microsoft Power BI]
What I'm trying to decide: [the question this data should answer]

1. Tell me the 3 most important things this data shows for that decision
2. Point out anything unusual I should double-check
3. Give me the spreadsheet formulas to reproduce your numbers
Show your working step by step.

10-minute exercise: Second pair of eyes: economic datasets

Step 1Export a small slice of real data on economic datasets from Tableau or Microsoft Power BI, with names and confidential figures removed.
Step 2Paste it into [paste a table] and write the real decision in [What I'm trying to decide].
Step 3Put one of the formulas it gives into your spreadsheet. If your number differs, ask AI why before trusting anything else.

AI makes arithmetic mistakes. Recompute anything that matters with a spreadsheet formula.

New O*NET task (08/2024). O*NET hasn't linked it to work activities yet, so it was labelled by hand.

Present research at seminars and conferences.

New in O*NET

AI helps you prepare clearer wording and likely questions.

Show prompt & steps

Use AI to prepare: simpler wording, analogies, likely questions and a one-page handout. The conversation itself is yours.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as an economist. Part of my job is to present research at seminars and conferences.

Context: We use Wolfram Research Mathematica; the work draws on economics and accounting, mathematics and computers and electronics.
Audience: [management, clients, meeting]
Results: [paste key findings and numbers]

Turn this into a short presentation: headline message, 3 key charts to make, plain-language explanations, and likely questions with answers.

10-minute exercise: Present research results

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you present research.
Step 2Fill in [Audience] and [Results] with the real details, then run the prompt.
Step 3Check every number on your slides against the analysis output.

Rules, prices and policies change. Make sure AI is working from your current official version.

New O*NET task (08/2024). O*NET hasn't linked it to work activities yet, so its label comes from similar tasks, such as “Publish research findings or present them at conferences and seminars.” (Orthotists and Prosthetists), and was checked by hand. O*NET work activity: Present research results to others.. Also involves: Present medical research reports.; Prepare scientific or technical reports or presentations..

Review documents written by others, such as referee reports.

New in O*NET

AI pulls out what matters from long documents in seconds.

Show prompt & steps

Paste a long document, manual or policy into AI and ask for the parts that matter to you. You get a summary in seconds, then you read the key sections it points you to.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as an economist. Part of my job is to review documents written by others, such as referee reports.

Context: The work draws on economics and accounting, mathematics and computers and electronics.
Documents: [paste the specs, schedules, orders or system charts]
My goal: [what work I need to plan or approve]

Pull out the requirements, dependencies and deadlines, then propose a work sequence. List conflicts or gaps between documents and the questions to resolve before approval.

10-minute exercise: Plan work from technical documents

Step 1Choose a plan or approval you're working on now.
Step 2Paste the source material into [Documents] and state [My goal].
Step 3Check the conflicts it found against the originals. Raise the real ones before you sign off.

Remove names and private details before pasting, and check your employer's rules on what you can share with AI tools.

Updated O*NET task (08/2024), replacing: “Review documents written by others.”. O*NET work activity: Review technical documents to plan work.. Also involves: Proofread documents, records, or other files to ensure accuracy..

Getting into this job

Master's degree is most common (50% of workers)

  • Bachelor's 21%
  • Graduate degree 79%
  • On-the-job training: 1–3 months
  • Related experience: 1–2 years

What workers in this job report, from O*NET surveys (typical values).

Software in this job

In-demand tools from O*NET. Many now have AI built in, so check what yours can do before adding a new tool.

C++IBM SPSS StatisticsMicrosoft AccessMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft Power BIMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft SQL ServerMicrosoft Visual BasicMicrosoft Visual Basic for Applications VBAMicrosoft Word