JOB REPORT / 19-3011 · 34 TASKS

Economists.

Can AI do the work of Economists?

Mostly it works alongside you. Here is what shifts, task by task.

YOUR EXPERIENCE MATTERS

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How many tasks do you use AI to assist with at work?

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The mark shows what’s typical for this job.

The parts of your job AI can already do most of:

Monitor or analyze market and environmental trends
Forecast production and consumption of renewable resources and supply…
Conduct research on economic and environmental topics

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A guided certificate program in AI-assisted Economists work. It covers the 34 AI-affected parts of your job and ends in a capstone a person reviews.

WHAT WE LOOKED AT

Your job, task by task.

34 of 34 tasks reviewed

We went through all 34 core tasks in this job, one at a time.

Task by task, from the work Economists actually do. How we describe AI use in each task is our own read of it, not a measurement of whether AI can replace the job.

TASK 01
Monitor or analyze market and environmental trends.
AI DOES
Scans datasets, spots patterns, and summarizes market and environmental trends
YOU DO
Judge which trends matter and translate findings into real-world policy advice
TASK 02
Forecast production and consumption of renewable resources and supply, consumption, and depletion of non-renewable resources.
AI DOES
Pulls and cleans data, runs forecasting models, and flags trends in resource supply and demand
YOU DO
Set economic assumptions, interpret uncertainty, and communicate findings to policymakers
TASK 03
Conduct research on economic and environmental topics, such as alternative fuel use, public and private land use, soil conservation, air and water pollution control, and endangered species protection.
AI DOES
Searches databases, summarizes papers, pulls data trends, and drafts literature reviews
YOU DO
Judge which findings are credible and decide what the evidence means for policy
TASK 04
Collect and analyze data to compare the environmental implications of economic policy or practice alternatives.
AI DOES
Pulls and summarizes environmental and economic datasets, runs scenario comparisons, and drafts analytical reports
YOU DO
Judge which trade-offs matter most and validate that the analysis fits real-world policy context
TASK 05
Explain economic impact of policies to the public.
AI DOES
Drafts plain-language summaries, finds relevant data, and suggests analogies to explain complex policy effects
YOU DO
Choose what matters most to your audience and speak with credibility they can trust
TASK 06
Review documents written by others.
AI DOES
Summarizes documents, flags inconsistencies, checks grammar, and highlights key claims
YOU DO
Apply deep economic expertise to judge whether the reasoning and evidence actually hold up
TASK 07
Assess the costs and benefits of various activities, policies, or regulations that affect the environment or natural resource stocks.
AI DOES
Gathers data, summarizes literature, builds draft cost-benefit frameworks, and flags key tradeoffs
YOU DO
Weigh competing values, apply local context, and take responsibility for policy recommendations
TASK 08
Perform complex, dynamic, and integrated mathematical modeling of ecological, environmental, or economic systems.
AI DOES
Drafts model code, suggests equations, explains statistical methods, and debugs errors
YOU DO
Choose what the model means, set real-world assumptions, and decide if results are trustworthy
TASK 09
Write social, legal, or economic impact statements to inform decision makers for natural resource policies, standards, or programs.
AI DOES
Drafts impact statement sections, summarizes research, and formats economic data into clear language
YOU DO
Apply local knowledge, weigh competing values, and stand behind the analysis with professional credibility
TASK 10
Develop systems for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting environmental and economic data.
AI DOES
Cleans datasets, runs statistical models, flags trends, and drafts data pipeline code
YOU DO
Decide which data matters, question assumptions, and translate findings into policy that fits real communities
TASK 11
Write research proposals and grant applications to obtain private or public funding for environmental and economic studies.
AI DOES
Drafts proposal sections, formats budgets, suggests relevant literature, and checks grant guidelines
YOU DO
Bring original research ideas, credibility, and deep knowledge of what funders actually care about
TASK 12
Develop environmental research project plans, including information on budgets, goals, deliverables, timelines, and resource requirements.
AI DOES
Drafts plan outlines, suggests budget line items, and formats timeline tables
YOU DO
Define the research questions, set priorities, and judge what resources are truly feasible
TASK 13
Identify and recommend environmentally friendly business practices.
AI DOES
Searches literature, summarizes green practices, and drafts recommendation reports
YOU DO
Match recommendations to real business constraints and local policy context
TASK 14
Study the socioeconomic impacts of new public policies, such as proposed legislation, taxes, services, and regulations.
AI DOES
Searches literature, cleans datasets, runs basic models, and drafts report sections
YOU DO
Judge which effects matter most and explain trade-offs to policymakers
TASK 15
Develop economic guidelines and standards, and prepare points of view used in forecasting trends and formulating economic policy.
AI DOES
Drafts guideline templates, summarizes economic literature, flags data trends, and generates forecast scenarios
YOU DO
Apply contextual judgment about political, social, and ethical trade-offs that shape real policy
TASK 16
Conduct research to study the relationships among environmental problems and patterns of economic production and consumption.
AI DOES
Searches literature, summarizes data patterns, and drafts literature reviews
YOU DO
Design the research framework and judge what the findings actually mean for real-world policy
TASK 17
Teach theories, principles, and methods of economics.
AI DOES
Drafts lesson plans, explains theories, creates practice problems, and answers student questions instantly
YOU DO
Read student confusion, spark curiosity, and connect ideas to real life in the moment
TASK 18
Develop programs or policy recommendations to promote sustainability and sustainable development.
AI DOES
Searches literature, summarizes research, drafts policy language, and models scenario tradeoffs
YOU DO
Weigh competing values, judge political feasibility, and build trust with stakeholders
TASK 19
Examine the exhaustibility of natural resources or the long-term costs of environmental rehabilitation.
AI DOES
Searches literature, organizes data, runs basic depletion models, and drafts scenario summaries
YOU DO
Weigh ethical tradeoffs, interpret local conditions, and make long-run policy recommendations
TASK 20
Conduct research on economic issues, and disseminate research findings through technical reports or scientific articles in journals.
AI DOES
Searches literature, drafts report sections, summarizes data patterns, and formats citations
YOU DO
Decide what questions are worth asking and stake your credibility on the findings
TASK 21
Demonstrate or promote the economic benefits of sound environmental regulations.
AI DOES
Summarizes research, drafts policy briefs, finds cost-benefit data, and builds economic models
YOU DO
Bring lived expertise and personal credibility to convince real decision-makers
TASK 22
Provide litigation support, such as writing reports for expert testimony or testifying as an expert witness.
AI DOES
Drafts report sections, summarizes data, and checks logical consistency
YOU DO
Own the expert opinion and defend it under cross-examination
TASK 23
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.
AI DOES
Drafts testimony, builds cost-benefit models, and pulls supporting research fast
YOU DO
Show up, speak clearly, and defend your findings under live questioning
TASK 24
Supervise research projects and students' study projects.
AI DOES
Drafts feedback on student work, flags gaps in research plans, and summarizes literature
YOU DO
Build trust, read the student, and make judgment calls on their growth
TASK 25
Teach courses in environmental economics.
AI DOES
Drafts lesson plans, generates practice problems, summarizes readings, and gives writing feedback
YOU DO
Build student trust, read the room, and guide real discussions
TASK 26SOURCE-BACKED TASK
Prepare and deliver presentations to communicate economic and environmental study results, to present policy recommendations, or to raise awareness of environmental consequences.
AI DOES
Creates slides, charts, and talking points from data
YOU DO
Connect with the audience and inspire action
About this analysis
39% · Methodology: exposure-v1 · Analysis date: unavailable · Confidence: medium
TASK 27SOURCE-BACKED TASK
Write technical documents or academic articles to communicate study results or economic forecasts.
AI DOES
Drafts sections and formats citations quickly
YOU DO
Shape the argument and verify claims
About this analysis
35% · Methodology: exposure-v1 · Analysis date: unavailable · Confidence: medium
TASK 28SOURCE-BACKED TASK
Develop economic models, forecasts, or scenarios to predict future economic and environmental outcomes.
AI DOES
Runs models and generates baseline forecasts
YOU DO
Choose assumptions and interpret results
About this analysis
29% · Methodology: exposure-v1 · Analysis date: unavailable · Confidence: medium
TASK 29SOURCE-BACKED TASK
Compile, analyze, and report data to explain economic phenomena and forecast market trends, applying mathematical models and statistical techniques.
AI DOES
Runs models and generates statistical analysis reports
YOU DO
Interpret what the patterns really mean
About this analysis
26% · Methodology: exposure-v1 · Analysis date: unavailable · Confidence: medium
TASK 30SOURCE-BACKED TASK
Formulate recommendations, policies, or plans to solve economic problems or to interpret markets.
AI DOES
Analyzes data patterns and generates policy options
YOU DO
Choose priorities and sell the solution
About this analysis
19% · Methodology: exposure-v1 · Analysis date: unavailable · Confidence: medium
TASK 31SOURCE-BACKED TASK
Study economic and statistical data in area of specialization, such as finance, labor, or agriculture.
AI DOES
Processes datasets and generates statistical summaries
YOU DO
Interpret patterns and draw meaningful conclusions
About this analysis
17% · Methodology: exposure-v1 · Analysis date: unavailable · Confidence: medium
TASK 32SOURCE-BACKED TASK
Provide advice and consultation on economic relationships to businesses, public and private agencies, and other employers.
AI DOES
Analyzes data trends and generates policy recommendations
YOU DO
Interpret context and build client trust
About this analysis
16% · Methodology: exposure-v1 · Analysis date: unavailable · Confidence: medium
TASK 33SOURCE-BACKED TASK
Develop programs or policy recommendations to achieve environmental goals in cost-effective ways.
AI DOES
Analyzes data and drafts policy options
YOU DO
Weigh tradeoffs and stakeholder needs
About this analysis
0% · Methodology: exposure-v1 · Analysis date: unavailable · Confidence: medium
TASK 34SOURCE-BACKED TASK
Interpret indicators to ascertain the overall health of an environment.
AI DOES
Processes sensor data and flags potential issues
YOU DO
Judge what the patterns really mean
About this analysis
0% · Methodology: exposure-v1 · Analysis date: unavailable · Confidence: medium

START LEARNING AI

Practice AI.
Use your judgment.

There are 34 short lessons for this job, about 15 minutes each. Each one starts from a task above and teaches the part that stays with you.

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AT A GLANCE

Occupation: Economists
SOC code: 19-3011
Tasks reviewed: 34 of 34

How we assess

PAY & OUTLOOK

Compare pay by state

Median pay (national): $124,720 · BLS OEWS 2025
Median pay (Colorado): $121,410 · BLS OEWS 2025
Employed (national): 17,790
Employed in Colorado: 240
Job outlook: +1.2% by 2034 · ~900 openings/yr

Wages from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. National figures cover the United States. Job outlook is national.

How does this fit your work?

Earn a certificate in your job

Your job, task by task.

Monitor or analyze market and environmental trends.

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

Conduct research on economic and environmental topics, such as alternative fuel use, public and private land use, soil conservation, air and water pollution control, and endangered species protection.

Collect and analyze data to compare the environmental implications of economic policy or practice alternatives.

Explain economic impact of policies to the public.

Review documents written by others.

Assess the costs and benefits of various activities, policies, or regulations that affect the environment or natural resource stocks.

Perform complex, dynamic, and integrated mathematical modeling of ecological, environmental, or economic systems.

Write social, legal, or economic impact statements to inform decision makers for natural resource policies, standards, or programs.

Develop systems for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting environmental and economic data.

Write research proposals and grant applications to obtain private or public funding for environmental and economic studies.

Develop environmental research project plans, including information on budgets, goals, deliverables, timelines, and resource requirements.

Identify and recommend environmentally friendly business practices.

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

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

Conduct research to study the relationships among environmental problems and patterns of economic production and consumption.

Teach theories, principles, and methods of economics.

Develop programs or policy recommendations to promote sustainability and sustainable development.

Examine the exhaustibility of natural resources or the long-term costs of environmental rehabilitation.

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

Demonstrate or promote the economic benefits of sound environmental regulations.

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

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.

Supervise research projects and students' study projects.

Teach courses in environmental economics.

Prepare and deliver presentations to communicate economic and environmental study results, to present policy recommendations, or to raise awareness of environmental consequences.

Write technical documents or academic articles to communicate study results or economic forecasts.

Develop economic models, forecasts, or scenarios to predict future economic and environmental outcomes.

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

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

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

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

Develop programs or policy recommendations to achieve environmental goals in cost-effective ways.

Interpret indicators to ascertain the overall health of an environment.

Practice AI.Use your judgment.

Practice AI.
Use your judgment.