Career outcomes

What can I do with an economics degree?

There is often a significant demand for economists in both the public and private sectors. Our graduates regularly obtain placements in the public and private sectors, or go onto further studies in graduate shcool.

Private sector organizations

Financial institutions
Consulting firms

Public sector organizations

Federal governments
Provincial ministries

Looking for some career inspiration? Watch Economics Professor Larry Smith's TEDxUW talk: "why you will fail to have a great career...unless."

Watch video on YouTube

Serena Ly - alumnus

Degree: Honours Arts and Business Co-op, 2015
Economics Major with specializations in Public Policy and Human Resource Management
Career: Senior Investor Relations Advisor, Ontario Financing Authority (OFA)

The co-op program at the University of Waterloo not only served as a gateway for me to full-time employment, but also provided me with the knowledge necessary to work in the fixed-income market. My background in economics and business helped develop my research, analytical and interpersonal skills, preparing me for my previous role at the OFA as a Research Analyst and now as a Senior Advisor.

Serena Ly headshot

Sridaya Srivatsan - alumnus

Honours Arts
Economics major, Management Studies minor

Switching into Honours Economics was the best decision I ever made! All the professors in our department do their best to provide as much help as they can when teaching, and always place the student's success first. Aside from that, the department is filled with approachable and wonderful people who you can always count on having amazing thought-provoking conversations with. Discovering varied economic philosophies, econometric tools and various research methodologies has made my undergraduate degree the perfect stepping stone for the rest of my career.