UK AI JobsExpected · in use · happened
Grows with AI

Economist

15.3K UK workers · typical pay £44,000 · entry route Postgraduate degree (Level 7+). Projected growth of +11% to 2035.

How AI is actually used here · measured · Anthropic Economic Index
55%
Augmentation
AI mostly assists
8.8×
Time compression
~7h → ~48min
2.81/5
AI autonomy
how hands-off it runs
45%
Automation
of measured usage
How the collaboration splits · the six measured modes
task iteration 33.6%directive 29.5%feedback loop 15%learning 15%validation 5.8%unclassified 1%
What people make with AI here
document / report21%explanation / answer13%analysis / summary9%

Real Claude.ai usage mapped to this occupation's SOC group, Apr+May 2026, CC-BY. Claude users only; task times model-estimated; augment/automate is how AI is used, not a count of jobs lost. Method →

Facts · ONS + NCS
UK workers (2024)
15.3K
Median pay
£44.0K
Our scored call · a labelled hypothesis, not a measurement
AI exposure
8 / 10
Elasticity
7.5 / 10
2035 outlook
+11%
Exposure · 8/10
Why AI can do the work

Economists perform high-level knowledge work that is almost entirely digital, involving data analysis, statistical modeling, and report writing—all areas where AI is rapidly advancing. While human judgment remains critical for policy advice and complex reasoning, AI can now automate significant portions of data processing, forecasting, and initial drafting, substantially increasing individual productivity and reducing the total number of analysts required.

Elasticity · 7.5/10
Whether demand expands when it gets cheaper

Cheaper economic modeling unlocks a massive latent demand for hyper-local, real-time, and scenario-specific analysis that is currently too expensive for small businesses and local government.

Trajectory to 2035

Headcount grows +11%, a Jevons-pattern curve.

Adoption scenario
×1.00 · Consensus

Change the scenario in the nav to reshape this curve.

Headcount projection · 2024 → 2035
Baseline 15.3K workers (2024) · % change vs baseline
Peak 2027 +14%2035 +11%
Peak 20272024202620282030203220342035-7%+0%+16%+11%
Peak headcount
2027
+14% vs 2024
2035 endpoint
+11%
16.9K workers
Time to −10%
Never crosses in model
Total wage pool
£0.7B
pay × jobs
Where this role lives

UK employment share by region, SOC-joined to 2433.

London
25.4K · 43.2%
South East
10.1K · 17.2%
East
7.0K · 11.9%
Scotland
6.8K · 11.6%
Yorkshire and The Humber
5.7K · 9.7%
Wales
3.8K · 6.5%
Gender split

Majority-male role (68.1% men).

19.4K women · 32%41.5K men · 68%
slug: economist · dataset 2026.03 · CC-BY-4.0