Economic Research Assistant

Career Guide

An Economic Research Assistant supports economists and policy teams by collecting data, cleaning and organizing datasets, running basic analyses, summarizing research findings, and helping produce reports. The role builds strong foundations in quantitative analysis, writing, and applied research methods.

Browse All Roles

Key Responsibilities

Collect economic and financial data from public and licensed sources
Clean, organize, and document datasets for repeatable use
Create charts, tables, and summary statistics for reports and presentations
Run basic statistical analyses under guidance from an economist or researcher
Conduct literature reviews and summarize research papers in clear language
Support survey design and fieldwork logistics when relevant
Track economic indicators and produce regular updates and briefings
Help draft research memos, policy notes, and slide decks
Maintain version control and file organization for projects
Coordinate with internal partners to validate assumptions and data definitions

Top Skills for Success

Data Cleaning

Spreadsheet Modeling

Statistical Analysis

Econometrics

Research Design

Literature Review

Data Visualization

Technical Writing

Attention to Detail

Stakeholder Communication

Career Progression

Can Lead To

Research Analyst Economic Analyst Policy Analyst Data Analyst

Quantitative Research Analyst

Transition Opportunities

Economist Senior Policy Analyst Data Scientist

Economic Consultant

Research Manager

Common Skill Gaps

Often Missing Skills

Reproducible ResearchData DocumentationCausal InferenceTime Series AnalysisSurvey MethodsVersion ControlPresentation StorytellingDatabase Querying

Development SuggestionsBuild one portfolio project that uses a public dataset, includes clear documentation, and produces a short written brief. Practice explaining results in plain language, and adopt consistent workflows for organizing files, code, and outputs.

Market Intelligence Report

Economic Research Assistant is part of the Journalism & Editorial category.Explore our market intelligence report to see how AI and hiring demand are shifting for these roles.

See the market intelligence report

Salary & Demand

Median Salary Range

Entry LevelUS$40,000 to US$60,000

Mid LevelUS$60,000 to US$80,000

Senior LevelUS$80,000 to US$105,000

Growth Trend

Steady demand. Hiring rises with interest in policy analysis, labor markets, inflation tracking, and data-driven decision making across government, finance, and technology.

Companies Hiring

Major Employers

Federal Reserve BanksWorld BankInternational Monetary FundBureau of Labor StatisticsOECDRAND CorporationBrookings InstitutionDeloittePwCMoody's Analytics

Industry Sectors

GovernmentCentral BankingInternational DevelopmentManagement ConsultingEconomic ConsultingThink TanksHigher EducationFinancial ServicesTechnologyHealthcare

Recommended Next Steps

Create a portfolio project using a public economic dataset and publish a short memo with charts

Practice writing a one page summary of an economics paper each week

Learn one analysis tool deeply and use it end to end on a project

Build a simple dashboard or recurring report that tracks key indicators

Conduct two mock interviews focused on explaining methods and results clearly

Network with researchers at universities, think tanks, and policy teams to learn typical workflows