Policy Analysts

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) does not provide an employment outlook for the general career of policy analyst, but it does provide employment predictions for specialized workers—such as economists and political scientists—who conduct public policy–related research as part of their jobs. It reports that employment for political scientists is expected to grow 3 percent from 2023 to 2033, or about as fast as the average. According to the DOL, "political scientists will continue to be needed in government to assess the impact of public policy and proposals, such as service efficiencies, budget changes, and other improvements. Organizations that research or advocate for specific causes, such as health care or the environment, need political scientists to analyze policies relating to their field." Competition will be strong for the best positions.

Job opportunities will be slightly better for economists, with growth of 5 percent (about as fast as the average) expected during this same time span. The DOL reports that demand for economists should come from the need to better understand the increasing complexity of the global economy.