Economists and economic policy researchers and analysts

Economists and economic policy researchers and analysts perform some or all of the following duties:

• Do research and develop models to analyze, explain and forecast economic behaviour and patterns, and create methods for collection and analysis of data
• Forecast production and consumption of specific products and services based on records of past production and consumption and general economic and industry-specific conditions
• Prepare forecasts of income and expenditure, interest rates and exchange rates
• Analyze factors that determine economic growth and advise government agencies on policies to increase economic activities
• Analyze factors that determine labour force participation, employment, wages, unemployment and other labour market outcomes
• Study mathematical formulas and statistical techniques and apply them to the testing and measuring of economic theories and the solution of economic problems
• Study the nature of money, credit and the operation of banks and other financial institutions to develop monetary policies and forecasts of financial activity
• Follow economic data to assess the effectiveness, and advise on the appropriateness of monetary and fiscal policies
• Examine problems related to the economic activity of individual companies
• Examine financial methods, production costs and techniques and marketing policies to recommend possible improvements
• Examine statistical data on the exchange of goods and services among nations
• Forecast production and consumption of renewable resources and supply, consumption and depletion of non-renewable resources
• Do research on market conditions in local, regional or national area to set sales and pricing levels for goods and services, to assess market potential and future trends and to develop business strategies
• Follow regional and local economic trends
• Study regulatory processes and provide material in support of legal proceedings with government and other parties

Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.