Not Very Resilient
Last Update: 6/19/2026
AI Resilience Score for Economists:
32.0%
Median Score
Meaningful human contribution
Measures the parts of the occupation that still require a human touch. This score averages data from up to four AI exposure datasets, focusing on the role’s resilience against automation.
Low
Long-term employer demand
Predicts the health of the job market for this role through 2034. Using Bureau of Labor Statistics data, it balances projected annual job openings (60%) with overall employment growth (40%).
Low
Sustained economic opportunity
Measures future earning potential and career flexibility. This score is a blend of total projected labor income (67%) and the role’s inherent ability to adapt to economic and technological shifts (33%).
Med
This reflects the reliability of your score based on the number of data sources available for this career and how closely those sources agree on the outlook. A higher confidence means more consistent evidence from labor experts and AI models.
Most data sources align, with only minor variation. This is a well-supported result.
Contributing sources
AI Resilience Report forEconomists
$115,440 median salary•900 annual openings•SOC Code: 19-3011.00
Economists are less resilient to AI impacts than most occupations, according to our analysis of 7 sources.
Economists are labeled "Not Very Resilient" because AI is already automating a large share of the routine tasks that make up a lot of this work, including literature reviews, data analysis, econometric coding, and report writing. In economic consulting especially, AI tools can cut the time spent on common research tasks by 80 to 95 percent, which means fewer people are needed to produce the same output.
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Economists are labeled "Not Very Resilient" because AI is already automating a large share of the routine tasks that make up a lot of this work, including literature reviews, data analysis, econometric coding, and report writing. In economic consulting especially, AI tools can cut the time spent on common research tasks by 80 to 95 percent, which means fewer people are needed to produce the same output.
Read full analysisAnalysis of Current AI Resilience
Economists
Updated Quarterly
How is AI changing Economists jobs?
Right now, AI is mostly augmenting economists rather than replacing them. A National Bureau of Economic Research paper explains that economists can create agents that autonomously conduct literature reviews across myriads of sources, write and debug econometric code, fetch and analyze economic data, and coordinate complex research workflows, and that with "vibe coding" through natural language, any economist can build sophisticated research assistants and other autonomous tools in minutes. AEI similarly reports that ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini are serving as "force multipliers" for economists and policy analysts [1], helping with data analysis, writing, and overcoming research bottlenecks rather than replacing core judgment.
In economic consulting, ProMarket reports that AI agents can save 80–90% of the time spent on literature review and 85–95% of the time on "maker-checker" audit work [2], trimming the labor needed to produce expert reports. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics also notes that insufficient data infrastructure is the greatest obstacle to AI usage [3], which slows full automation.
Sources
How fast is AI adoption growing for Economists?
Adoption is moving quickly because tools are cheap, widely available, and especially good at the routine modeling and writing tasks economists do. BCG's 2026 analysis estimates that 50% to 55% of US jobs will be reshaped by AI over the next two to three years [4], with full substitution coming more slowly. For economists specifically, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment growth of just 1% from 2024 to 2034, slower than the average for all occupations [3] — likely reflecting AI's productivity boost.
ProMarket adds that AI will likely reduce overall demand for economic consultants and shift work to in-house teams [2]. Still, human strengths — supervising students, judgment calls about public policy, and testifying under oath — remain hard to automate, so economists who lean into AI as a partner are likely to thrive.
Sources
Will AI replace Economists?
In part. We think AI will eventually automate a real share of this work, but economists who adapt can still build meaningful, well-paying careers.
Our 32.0% AI Resilience Score reflects a real and serious shift. Tools are already saving 80 to 90% of the time spent on literature review and 85 to 95% of the time on routine audit work [2]. That kind of efficiency gain means fewer economists are needed to produce the same output, and the BLS projects just 1% employment growth through 2034 [3]. This is not a field where demand is quietly booming behind the scenes.
What stays human is the stuff that actually matters most: policy judgment, ethical reasoning, courtroom testimony, and the ability to ask the right question in the first place. AI is currently a force multiplier for economists who know how to use it [1], not a replacement for the thinking behind the work.
The honest career advice here is to treat AI fluency as a core skill, not an add-on. Economists who can supervise AI-driven research, translate findings for decision-makers, and move fluidly between academia, government, and consulting will have real options. The job is changing faster than the title suggests, and getting ahead of that change is the move.
Sources
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Latest AI news for Economists
These articles offer valuable insights for aspiring economists about the evolving role of AI in the job market. For instance, Torsten Sløk emphasizes that there is "zero evidence" of job losses due to AI, suggesting that economic growth and new job creation may arise instead. Additionally, comments from the Federal Reserve's John Williams highlight that economist roles are likely to remain secure amidst AI advancements. This indicates a resilient future for economists, who can leverage AI to enhance their analyses and adapt to changing economic landscapes.
Economists Weigh In on the Future of Work and AI
www.wsj.com • 6/13/2026
How 16 top economists think AI will change the job market, and how to prepare.
Top Economist Says There Is 'Zero Evidence' Of AI Job Losses Despite Growing Layoff Fears
finance.yahoo.com • 6/6/2026
Apollo Global Management Chief Economist Torsten Sløk said there is “zero evidence” that artificial intelligence is causing job losses across...
Fed’s Williams Quips Economist Jobs Are Safe as AI Shift Unfolds
finance.yahoo.com • 5/30/2026
Fed's Williams Quips Economist Jobs Are Safe as AI Shift Unfolds ... (Bloomberg) -- The implications of artificial intelligence gripped global...
Apollo chief economist says there’s ‘zero evidence’ AI is killing jobs—in fact, he says it’s creating them
finance.yahoo.com • 5/30/2026
The economist says this is the Jevons paradox taking shape: cheaper technology generates more demand and work for humans. This idea contrasts...
Governor Newsom signs first-of-its-kind executive order to prepare workers and businesses for potential AI disruption
www.gov.ca.gov • 5/20/2026
What you need to know: Governor Newsom is signing a first-in-the-nation executive order to confront the economic impacts of artificial...
More Career Info
Career: Economists
They study money and resources to understand how they affect people and businesses, and they give advice on making smart financial decisions.
Parent Careers
Employment & Wage Data
Median Wage
$115,440
Jobs (2024)
17,600
Growth (2024-34)
+1.2%
Annual Openings
900
Education
Master's degree
Experience
None
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2024-2034
Task-Level AI Resilience Scores
AI-generated estimates of task resilience over the next 3 years
1
Provide litigation support, such as writing reports for expert testimony or testifying as an expert witness.
2
Supervise research projects and students' study projects.
3
Forecast production and consumption of renewable resources and supply, consumption and depletion of non-renewable resources.
4
Study the socioeconomic impacts of new public policies, such as proposed legislation, taxes, services, and regulations.
5
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.
6
Provide advice and consultation on economic relationships to businesses, public and private agencies, and other employers.
7
Develop economic guidelines and standards and prepare points of view used in forecasting trends and formulating economic policy.
Tasks are ranked by their AI resilience, with the most resilient tasks shown first. Core tasks are essential functions of this occupation, while supplemental tasks provide additional context.
