View subgroup
Search
Search by job title
Search by CH code
4162.0 – Economists and economic policy researchers and analysts
Economists and economic policy researchers and analysts conduct research, monitor data, analyze information and prepare reports and plans to resolve economic and business problems and develop models to analyze, explain and forecast economic behaviour and patterns. They advise on matters such as finance, fiscal and monetary policy, international trade, agricultural and natural resource commodities and labour and industrial markets.
Profile
Example titles Help
- Agricultural economist
- Economic advisor
- Economic analyst
- Economic policy analyst
- Economist
- Energy economist
- Financial economist
- Industrial economist
- International trade economist
- Investment economist
- Labour economist
- Natural resources economist
- Tax economist
- Trade economist
Main characteristics Help
- General learning ability to analyze factors that determine economic growth, labour force participation, employment, wages, unemployment and other labour market outcomes; to examine problems related to the economic activities of individual companies, such as financial methods, production costs and techniques, and marketing policies, in order to recommend possible improvements; and to assess the effectiveness of monetary and fiscal policies
- Verbal ability to advise government agencies and private establishments on matters such as finance, fiscal and monetary policy, taxation, international trade, agricultural and natural resources commodities, and labour and industrial markets
- Numerical ability to study mathematical formulas and statistical techniques and apply them to the testing and quantifying of economic theories and the solution of economic problems; and to examine statistical data on the exchange of goods and services among nations
- Innovative interest in conducting research and developing models to analyze, explain and forecast economic behaviour and patterns; in devising methods to collect and analyze data; and in studying the nature of money, credit and credit instruments, and the operations of banks and other financial institutions in order to develop monetary policies and forecasts of financial activity
- Methodical interest in co-ordinating information to monitor economic data and regional and local economic trend; to forecast the production and consumption of renewable resources and supply, consumption and depletion of non-renewable resources; to forecast production and consumption of specific products and services based on records of past production and consumption and general economic and industry-specific conditions; and to prepare forecasts of income and expenditure, interest rates and exchange rates
- Directive interest in consulting to advise government agencies on policies to increase economic activities; in conducting research on market conditions in local, regional and national areas to set sales and pricing levels for goods and services, and to assess market potential and future trends
Aptitudes Help
One of five levels assigned for each factor, with levels representing normal curve distribution of the labour force:
- G
- General learning ability
- V
- Verbal ability
- N
- Numerical ability
- S
- Spatial perception
- P
- Form perception
- Q
- Clerical perception
- K
- Motor co-ordination
- F
- Finger dexterity
- M
- Manual dexterity

- The highest 10% of the working population
- Upper third, exclusive of the highest 10%
- Middle third of the working population
- Lowest third, exclusive of the lowest 10%
- Lowest 10% of the working population
An individual's overall capacity to learn the skills needed to perform job duties is based on his or her specific aptitudes for acquiring information and transforming it into action.
General learning ability G-1
Ability to 'catch on' or understand instructions and underlying principles; to reason and make judgments.
Verbal ability V-2
Ability to understand the meaning of words and the ideas associated with them, and to use them effectively; to comprehend language, to understand relationships between words and to understand the meaning of whole sentences and paragraphs; to present information or ideas clearly.
Numerical ability N-1
Ability to carry out arithmetical processes quickly and accurately.
Spatial perception S-4
Ability to think visually about geometric forms and comprehend the two dimensional representation of three dimensional objects; to recognize the relationships resulting from the movement of objects in space. May be used in such tasks as blueprint reading and in solving geometry problems. Frequently described as the ability to 'visualize' objects of two or three dimensions.
Form perception P-4
Ability to perceive pertinent detail in objects and in pictorial and graphic material; to make visual comparisons and discriminations and to see slight differences in shapes and shadings of figures and widths and lengths of lines.
Clerical perception Q-3
Ability to perceive pertinent detail in verbal or tabular material; to observe differences in copy, to proofread words and numbers, and to avoid perceptual errors in arithmetical computation.
Motor co-ordination K-4
Ability to co-ordinate eyes, hands and fingers rapidly and accurately when required to respond with precise movements.
Finger dexterity F-4
Ability to move the fingers and manipulate small objects with the fingers rapidly and/or accurately.
Manual dexterity M-4
Ability to move the hands easily and skillfully; to work with the hands in placing and turning motions.
Interests Help
Three of five descriptive factors, assigned in order of predominance and lower case rating indicating weaker representation:
- D
- Directive
- I
- Innovative
- M
- Methodical
- O
- Objective
- S
- Social
Innovative I
Innovative persons like to explore things in depth and arrive at solutions to problems by experimenting. They are interested in initiating and creating different ways to solve questions and present information. They enjoy scientific subjects. Innovative persons prefer to be challenged with new and unexpected experiences. They adjust to change easily.
Methodical M
Methodical persons like to have clear rules and organized methods to guide their activities. They prefer working under the direction or supervision of others according to given instructions, or to be guided by established policies and procedures. Methodical persons like to work on one thing until it is completed. They enjoy following a set routine and prefer work that is free from the unexpected.
Directive D
Directive persons like to take charge and control situations. They like to take responsibility for projects that require planning, decision making and co-ordinating the work of others. They are able to give direction and instructions easily. They enjoy organizing their own activities. They see themselves as independent and self-directing.
Data, people, and things Help
Data
- 0
- Synthesizing
- 1
- Co-ordinating
- 2
- Analyzing
- 3
- Compiling
- 4
- Computing
- 5
- Copying
- 6
- Comparing
- 7
- N/A
- 8
- Not Significant
People
- 0
- Mentoring
- 1
- Negotiating
- 2
- Instructing - Consulting
- 3
- Supervising
- 4
- Diverting
- 5
- Persuading
- 6
- Speaking - Signaling
- 7
- Serving - Assisting
- 8
- Not significant
Things
- 0
- Setting up
- 1
- Precision working
- 2
- Controlling
- 3
- Driving - Operating
- 4
- Operating - Manipulating
- 5
- Tending
- 6
- Feeding - Offbearing
- 7
- Handling
- 8
- Not significant
Data Co-ordinating 1
Determining time, place and sequence of operations or actions to be taken based on analysis of data; executing determinations and/or reporting events.
People Consulting 2
Teaching subject matter to others, giving advice or training others (including animals) through explanation, demonstration and supervised practice; making recommendations on the basis of subject matter expertise.
Things Not significant 8
Not significant
Physical activities Help
V - Vision
- 1
- Close visual acuity
- 2
- Near vision
- 3
- Near and far vision
- 4
- Total visual field
H - Hearing
- 1
- Limited
- 2
- Verbal interaction
- 3
- Other sound discrimination
L - Limb co-ordination
- 0
- Not relevant
- 1
- Upper limb co-ordination
- 2
- Multiple limb co-ordination
C - Colour discrimination
- 0
- Not relevant
- 1
- Relevant
B - Body position
- 1
- Sitting
- 2
- Standing and/or walking
- 3
- Sitting, standing, walking
- 4
- Other body positions
S - Strength
- 1
- Limited
- 2
- Light
- 3
- Medium
- 4
- Heavy
Vision Vision V-2
The use of sight in the work performed. The levels are organized in terms of the visual field involved in the performance of the work.
2 - Near vision
Work activities are performed near the worker. The scope of the visual field is broader than in Close visual acuity (1).
Examples:
- reading and interpreting drawings and specifications
- using computer keyboards and reading computer monitors
- repairing automobile engines
- setting up and operating machine tools
Colour discrimination Colour discrimination C-0
The use of colour descrimination to identify, distinguish and match colours and different shades of the same colours.
0 - Not relevant
Colour discrimination is not relevant in the performance of the work.
Examples:
- cleaning windows
- providing information over the telephone
- interviewing, hiring and overseeing staff training
- translating documents
Hearing Hearing H-2
The use of hearing in the work performed. The levels are organized in terms of the type of auditory discrimination involved in the performance of the work.
2 - Verbal interaction
Work activities involve communication with colleagues, clients and/or the public on a regular basis.
Examples:
- operating directory listing systems to provide directory assistance to customers
- resolving work problems and recommending measures to improve productivity
- consulting with families of the deceased regarding funeral services
- analyzing and providing advice on managerial methods and organization of establishments
Body position Body position B-1
Primary type of posture or body movement involved in performing the work. These postures or body movements range from simple to complex and from sedentary to mobile.
1 - Sitting
Work activities primarily involve sitting. Standing and/or walking (2) may occur but is incidental to the work being performed.
Examples:
- reading and editing copy to be published or broadcast
- preparing financial statements
- issuing aircraft take-off and landing instructions to pilot
- interviewing clients
Limb co-ordination Limb co-ordination L-0
The use of limbs in performing work.
0 - Not relevant
Work activities do not involve co-ordination of limbs.
Examples:
- counselling clients and providing therapy
- proofreading materials before publication
- greeting patrons at entrances to restaurant dining rooms
- responding to enquiries at an information desk
Strength Strength S-1
The use of strength in the handling of loads such as pulling, pushing, lifting and/or moving objects during the work performed.
1 - Limited
Work activities involve handling loads up to 5 kg.
Examples:
- examining and analyzing financial information
- selling insurance to clients
- conducting economic and technical feasibility studies
- administering and marking written tests
Environmental conditions Help
Location
- L1
- Regulated inside climate
- L2
- Unregulated inside climate
- L3
- Outside
- L4
- In a vehicle or cab
Hazards
- H1
- Dangerous chemical substances
- H2
- Biological agents
- H3
- Equipment, machinery, tools
- H4
- Electricity
- H5
- Radiation
- H6
- Flying particles, falling objects
- H7
- Fire, steam, hot surfaces
- H8
- Dangerous locations
Discomforts
- D1
- Noise
- D2
- Vibration
- D3
- Odours
- D4
- Non-toxic dusts
- D5
- Wetness
Location Regulated inside climate L1
The work performed is carried out indoors in a regulated environment, indoors in an unregulated environment, outdoors or in a vehicle. In many occupations, the Main Duties may be performed in more than one location. Therefore, a group may have more than one Location code, for example:
- firefighting and fire prevention duties
- maintenance of interior/exterior of buildings
- managing operations and paperwork of farms
L1 - Regulated inside climate
A normal controlled environment such as an office, hospital or school.
Employment requirements Help
Education/training Help
- 1
- No formal education or training requirements
- 2
- Some high school education and/or on the job training or experience
- 3
- High school
- 4
- Course work, training, workshops and/or experience related to the occupation
- 5
- Apprenticeship, specialized training, vocational school training
- 6
- College, technical school (certificate, diploma)
- 7
- Undergraduate degree
- 8
- Post-graduate or professional degree
- +
- Additional requirement beyond education and training
- R
- Regulated requirement(s)
- A master's degree in economics or in a related discipline such as business administration or statistics is usually required.
- A doctorate in economics may be required.
Workplaces/employers Help
- Associations
- Banks
- Government departments and agencies
- Investment firms
- Research organizations
- Unions
Occupational options Help
- Progression to managerial positions in economics is possible with experience.
Exclusions Help
- Government managers - economic analysis, policy development and program administration (0412)
- Financial and investment analysts (1112)
- Economists who teach at universities (in 4011 University professors and lecturers)
- Business development officers and marketing researchers and consultants (4163)
- Labour policy analysts (in 4164 Social policy researchers, consultants and program officers)
Breakdown summary
- Broad occupational category
- 4 – Occupations in education, law and social, community and government services
- Skill level
- A – Occupations usually require university education
- Minor group
- 41 – Professional occupations in law and social, community and government services
- Minor group
- 416 – Policy and program researchers, consultants and officers
- Unit group
- 4162 – Economists and economic policy researchers and analysts
- Version
- NOC 2016 Version 1.3