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Economist
(Economics Analyst, Labour Economist, Econometrician, Economic Adviser)
Business & Finance
Salary
€45,000 - €110,000/yr
Level
Senior
Outlook
Growing
Sector
Business & Finance
What does an Economist do?
As an economist, you research and analyse economic trends, develop theories, and interpret statistical data to inform decisions made by governments, businesses, and public institutions. Your daily work involves building economic models, conducting quantitative and qualitative research, preparing reports, and presenting findings to policymakers or senior management. You might examine topics such as inflation, labour market trends, consumer behaviour, tax policy, or the impact of government spending. Economists in Ireland work alongside statisticians, policy advisers, financial analysts, and senior civil servants, often collaborating across teams in organisations such as the Central Bank of Ireland, the ESRI, government departments, or multinational firms.
A Day in the Life
Listen: a day as an Economist
You arrive at your desk in a government department on Merrion Street at half eight. Before the morning briefing, you check the CSO's latest release on the consumer price index, scanning the accompanying data tables for any movement in housing costs or energy prices that your team flagged last week. You open your statistical software — most likely Stata or R — and run a quick update to a model tracking wage growth against inflation. It is dry work at this hour, but accuracy here matters because a minister may quote these figures in the Dáil later. By ten o'clock you are in a team meeting with two policy advisers and a statistician. You are jointly preparing a briefing note on labour market tightness for a senior civil servant. The conversation becomes lively when the statistician queries your deflator assumption — that is, the figure you used to strip inflation out of wages. You defend your choice, agree to a sensitivity check, and update your spreadsheet on the shared drive before lunch.
Videos about Economist
Career Advice on becoming a Public Sector Economist by Jennifer M (Full Version)
icould career stories
Some videos were filmed in the UK. The work itself is the same, but the exams, qualifications and pay they mention are British — we include them so you get a feel for the job.
Required Education
A strong Leaving Certificate with Higher Level Mathematics and Economics is a very solid foundation for entry into this field. Most economists hold at least an NFQ Level 8 Honours Bachelor degree in Economics, Mathematics, or a related social science, taken at universities such as UCD, TCD, UCC, University of Galway, UL, DCU, or Maynooth. In practice, professional roles in Ireland — particularly in the ESRI, Central Bank of Ireland, and government departments such as the Department of Finance — typically require an NFQ Level 9 Masters degree in Economics or a closely related discipline such as Econometrics or Public Policy. Some economists go on to pursue an NFQ Level 10 PhD, especially those working in research institutions or academia. There is no single statutory professional registration body for economists in Ireland, but membership of professional associations such as the Statistical and Social Inquiry Society of Ireland (SSISI) is valued. Springboard+ and other postgraduate funding schemes can help support study at master's level for those returning to education.
Required Skills
Career Perspective
Graduates typically begin in junior analyst or research assistant roles within government departments, the Central Bank of Ireland, the ESRI, or private consultancies, often after completing a master's degree. With experience, you can progress to economist or senior economist grades, taking on more independent research and advisory responsibilities. Further advancement may lead to principal economist, head of division, or chief economist roles within large organisations, or to senior policy adviser positions in the civil service. Some economists move into academia, international organisations such as the European Central Bank or IMF, or into financial services and multinational corporations.
AI Impact on the job
Artificial intelligence and machine learning tools are transforming how economists handle large datasets, with automated data processing and predictive modelling reducing the time spent on routine analytical tasks. AI-driven tools can now generate initial economic forecasts and scenario analyses more quickly, allowing economists to focus on interpretation, judgement, and policy advice. However, the need for contextual understanding, ethical reasoning, and communication with policymakers means the core professional role of the economist remains very much human-led. Economists who develop competency in AI and data science tools alongside traditional economic skills will be particularly competitive in the Irish labour market.
Career Ladder
→ Economist (Current role)
Related Studies
Employers in Ireland
Organisations in Ireland that employ people in this occupation.
Dublin 1
Research monetary policy, financial stability, and macroeconomic trends.
Dublin 2
Independent economic and social policy research for government and public.
Dublin 2
Analyse fiscal policy, taxation, and macroeconomic forecasting for government.
Dublin 4
Produce economic research and forecasts informing banking strategy and lending.
Dublin 2
Analyse economic conditions to guide credit, investment, and business strategy.
Dublin 2
Assess economic impact of foreign direct investment and regional development.
Dublin 2
Deliver economic consulting, impact assessments, and policy analysis for clients.
Dublin 2
Provide economic modelling, regulatory economics, and sectoral analysis services.
Dublin 2
Specialist economic consultancy advising public bodies and private sector clients.
Dublin 2
Research long-term economic and social policy frameworks for the Irish government.
Dublin 2
Conduct academic economic research and teach undergraduate and postgraduate students.
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