How do students with a BA in Economics find a job, and what skills does the current market require?

I have been asked these questions frequently since my undergraduate years, largely because I secured an internship early in my career. With eight years of diverse experience in the United States and my current role teaching at the University of Toronto, I am launching this page to share my insights on what students should focus on.

While I may not be as well-versed in the latest financial market trends (based on the students' requests, I simply point to CFA/CFP, CPA, or ASA/FSA) or highly technical IT roles, I will provide deep dives into three specific career paths: Health Economics Specialists, Business Analysts, and Entry-level Data Scientists/Analysts.

Updates for my current students in ECO200 (2026/02/12)

I am getting in touch with the W3 Schools team and plan to take up to 10 students as my mentees to learn at least 2 of the skills listed below for career development (their website is free to use as a reference). I will pay for your license and certificate for 3 months (expected May-July, 2026), but I will continuously monitor your stance to learn and get trained well. The sole purpose is to bridge the gap between your course materials and the current job market (which most of you considered "harsh"), or if you want to get prepared and work under certain professors as their RAs. And before the new semester starts, I will hold a tiny party with you all somewhere in Downtown Toronto, and get an idea about what you have learned. Please email me at lawrence.hsu@mail.utoronto.ca to state your passion and current aims for the Summer if you want to join my mini-team.