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How to become an Economist

Also called: Business administration researcher, Economics researcher

Studies the constantly changing economy and offers analysis, forecasts based on it and policy recommendations.

Workers in this job say university or a master's degree is common. From job tag's survey of people in each job, who could give several answers. It shows what workers see as common, not how many workers hold each level.

How to become one

No particular qualification is required to start, but most economists have studied economics or a related field at postgraduate level. Many come from economics, business or commerce faculties, though some have science or engineering degrees. Most economists work as researchers at economic think tanks and research institutes, in government, or at private companies such as banks and securities firms. Some become economists after working in a company's research department or as a reporter for a business newspaper or magazine. With experience as an economist, some become university teachers, economic commentators or policy advisers. You need the analytical and research skills to pick out the factors that could affect the whole economy, pull together large amounts of information and examine cause and effect as a whole. To make recommendations to the public, you also need to explain information clearly and express it well.

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Questions people ask

How do I become an Economist?

No particular qualification is required to start, but most economists have studied economics or a related field at postgraduate level. Many come from economics, business or commerce faculties, though some have science or engineering degrees. Most economists work as researchers at economic think tanks and research institutes, in government, or at private companies such as banks and securities firms. Some become economists after working in a company's research department or as a reporter for a business newspaper or magazine. With experience as an economist, some become university teachers, economic commentators or policy advisers. You need the analytical and research skills to pick out the factors that could affect the whole economy, pull together large amounts of information and examine cause and effect as a whole. To make recommendations to the public, you also need to explain information clearly and express it well.

How much does an Economist earn in Japan?

Average annual income in the private sector, bonus included, is ¥8,020,100 (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare). The figure is for the wage survey group Researchers, which covers several jobs.

Do you need a degree to become an Economist?

Usually. In this job's census occupation group, 95% of workers are university graduates.

Will AI change the work of an Economist?

Generative AI could change many tasks in this job, which usually reshapes the work more than it replaces it, by the ILO's global estimate.

Sources

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 解説系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_description_7_01.xlsx）ver.7.01 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 簡易版数値系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_numeric_7_00.xlsx）ver.7.00 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

Sources: JILPT Occupational Information Database download data via job tag (解説系 ver.7.01 and 簡易版数値系 ver.7.00, downloaded 4 October 2026), processed by Peernovo; MHLW, Basic Survey on Wage Structure 2025; Statistics Bureau of Japan, 2020 Population Census; MEXT, School Basic Survey 2025; MHLW, Employment Referrals for General Workers (Hello Work statistics). Figures processed by Peernovo. English job names, translations and the matching of jobs to statistical groups, schools and degree fields by Peernovo.

Updated 4 October 2026