Career outcomes for MA Economics graduates

Summary

  • Just over 29 per cent of graduates work in financial services (29.2%). Business analyst and business consultant are common careers.
  • Just over 27 per cent of graduates work in government (27.3%). Economist and research analyst are common careers.
  • Graduates in other industries are also able to utilize their field of study. For example, many are economists and market analysts for companies. There are also economics professors.
  • Graduates working in financial services, telecommunications and oil and energy have the highest salaries.

The information on this page was extracted from raw data collected from LinkedIn in early 2022 by the University of Waterloo’s Alumni Relations office. The visualizations and lists represent the careers of alumni who graduated between 2002 and 2021. The salary amounts have been extrapolated based on relevant submissions to Glassdoor.


Roles held by MA Economics graduates: 

  • Advisor
  • Analyst
  • Business Consultant
  • Data Engineer
  • Director of Disability Analytics Reporting
  • Director General
  • Economist
  • Executive Director
  • General Manager
  • Information Management Coordinator
  • Manager of Economic Impact Analysis
  • Manager, Economic Policy
  • Manager of Wealth Management Operational Effectiveness
  • PhD Candidate
  • Policy Advisor
  • Program Data and Evaluation Manager
  • Research Analyst
  • Research Associate
  • Senior Risk Modelling Analyst
  • Senior Data Scientist
  • Senior Policy Advisor
  • Special Policy Advisor
  • Statistician
  • Team Leader
  • Vice President of Communications Strategy

Employers of MA Economics graduates: 

  • Bates White Economic Consulting
  • C.D. Howe Institute
  • Canada Revenue Agency
  • Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce
  • Centre for International Governance Innovation
  • Conference Board of Canada
  • Employment Social Development Canada
  • Facebook/ Meta
  • Finance Canada
  • Global Financial Advisory Services
  • Government of Manitoba/ Newfoundland and Labrador
  • Innovative Medicines Canada Health Research Foundation
  • London Economic Development Corporation
  • Manulife Financial Corporation
  • Natural Resources Canada
  • Ontario Financing Authority
  • Ontario Ministry of Economic Development, Trade and Employment
  • Ontario Ministry of Energy
  • Ontario Ministry of Finance
  • Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation
  • Ontario Public Service
  • Post-secondary institutions (Bentley University, Laurentian University, Renmin University, Shanghai University of Finance Economics, The University of Queensland, University of Waterloo)
  • Royal Bank of Canada
  • Rogers Communications
  • Scotiabank
  • Statistics Canada
  • Toronto Dominion Bank
  • Transport Canada

Employment location for MA Economics graduates

economics graph by employment location
dark orange

Ontario, 77.6%

teal

Quebec, 3.7%

light purple

USA, 9.3%

pink

Western Canada, 2.5%

light orange

Asia, 4.3%

light blue

East Coast of Canada, 1.2%

dark purple

Manitoba, 0.7%

dark green

Mexico, 0.7%

Chart data: Employment location

Employment location Percentage
Ontario 77.6%
Quebec 3.7%
USA 9.3%
Western Canada 2.5%
Asia 4.3%
East Coast of Canada 1.2%
Manitoba 0.7%
Mexico 0.7%

Career outcomes for MA Economics graduates by industry 

career outcomes for MA Economics graduates by industry pie graph
dark orange

Government (economist, research officer, business analyst), 27.3%

teal

Non-profit Organization (program data and evaluation manager, economist, policy analyst), 5%

light purple

Oil and Energy (senior rate analyst, market risk manager, project coordinator), 4.3%

pink

Telecommunications (senior data scientist, digital product manager, business systems analyst), 5%

light orange

Technology Services (investment analyst, software engineer, product marketing director), 3.1%

light blue

Educational Services ([economics] assistant professor, [economics] instructor, data scientist), 11.2%

dark purple

Financial Services (senior economist, business analyst, tax manager, day trader), 29.2%

dark green

For-profit Organization (consultant, data analyst, lawyer, vice president of communications and strategy), 14.9%

Chart data: Employment industry

Employment industry Percentage
Government (economist, research officer, business analyst) 27.3%
Non-profit Organization (program data and evaluation manager, economist, policy analyst) 5%
Oil and Energy (senior rate analyst, market risk manager, project coordinator) 4.3%
Telecommunications (senior data scientist, digital product manager, business systems analyst) 5%
Technology Services (investment analyst, software engineer, product marketing director) 3.1%
Educational Services ([economics] assistant professor, [economics] instructor, data scientist) 11.2%
Financial Services (senior economist, business analyst, tax manager, day trader) 29.2%
For-profit Organization (consultant, data analyst, lawyer, vice president of communications and strategy) 14.9%

Mean salary by industry for MA Economics graduates

Mean salary by industry for MA Economics graduates
light orange

Educational Services, $73,300

light blue

Financial Services, $102,500

dark purple

For-profit Organization, $84,400

dark green

Government, $85,200

View larger image

dark orange

Non-profit Organization, $70,200

teal

Oil and Energy, $102,900

light purple

Technology Services, $82,100

pink

Telecommunications, $121,500

Chart data: Mean salary by industry

Industry Canadian dollars per year
Educational Services $73,300
Financial Services $102,500
For-profit Organization $84,400
Government $85,200
Non-profit Organization $70,200
Oil and Energy $102,900
Technology Services $82,100
Telecommunications $121,500

Median salary by industry for MA Economics graduates

median salary by industry for MA Economics graduates bar graph
light orange

Educational Services, $66,600

light blue

Financial Services, $83,500

dark purple

For-profit Organization, $72,000

dark green

Government, $77,700

View larger image

dark orange

Non-profit Organization, $72,000

teal

Oil and Energy, $81,100

light purple

Technology Services, $67,800

pink

Telecommunications, $97,600

Chart data: Median salary by industry

Industry Canadian dollars per year
Educational Services $66,600
Financial Services $83,500
For-profit Organization $72,000
Government $77,700
Non-profit Organization $72,000
Oil and Energy $81,100
Technology Services $67,800
Telecommunications $97,600

Relation between career and field of study for MA Economics graduates

Relation between career and field of study
dark purple

Not related at all, 21 MA Economics graduates

light blue

Somewhat related, 20 MA Economics graduates

light orange

Closely related, 120 MA Economics graduates

View larger image

Chart data: Relation between career and field of study

Relation Number of MA Economics graduates
Not related at all 21
Somewhat related 20
Closely related 120