Experienced Economists

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The International Monetary Fund (IMF) hires experienced economists to join one of the largest teams of economists focused on macroeconomics.
Roles involve contributing analysis, policy, program design, and capacity development to help member countries address specific economic challenges.
Economists build collaborative relationships across the IMF and with external institutions, authorities, and leaders to develop solutions to evolving global economic challenges.

Area department economists:
- Assigned to work on one or two specific countries or for a region.
- Analyze and design fiscal, monetary, and exchange rate policies to promote and maintain macroeconomic stability.
- Examine macro-financial linkages, issues of good economic governance, fiscal and external debt sustainability.
- Develop approaches to promoting regional and broader trade liberalization.
Functional department economists:
- Provide advice, develop policies, conduct research, or deliver teaching in assigned fields.
- Contribute to policy-related research to shape IMF work and build expertise within member countries.
- Work closely with area department economists to analyze how current issues affect member countries.

Academic credentials:
- An advanced degree (master’s/PhD) in macroeconomics or a related field such as monetary economics, financial economics, public finance, international trade, or econometrics.
Professional experience:
- Relevant professional experience at the national and regional levels in macroeconomic policy, quantitative techniques, and country surveillance, usually gained in a central bank, ministry of finance, or international financial institution.
- Experience in a research institute or academia is acceptable if combined with some exposure to macroeconomic policy making.
- Specific credentials:
- PhD with three to ten years of relevant work experience
- Master’s with seven to fourteen years of relevant work experience
Technical and interpersonal skills:
- Demonstrated proficiency in quantitative modeling and econometrics to support analysis and policy formulation.
- Strong interpersonal, communications and writing skills, and excellent written and oral communication skills in English.
- Ability to deal effectively and diplomatically with member country authorities.

Two main categories of experienced economists recruited by the IMF:
- Experienced macroeconomists:
- Core economist roles for professionals with practical skills applicable across the IMF.
- The IMF maintains a pipeline of candidates; advertisements for this pipeline are periodically available on the IMF Workday site.
- Pipeline advertisements do not usually offer a specific assignment and often coincide with outreach visits to a particular geographic region.
- Selection is a two-step process: initial selection to include candidates in the experienced economist pipeline, after which pipeline candidates can view and compete for specific roles as they become available.
- Specialist economists:
- Economists with significant expertise in a specific economic field and/or extensive experience in that field.
- Vacancies typically advertised directly by a department, which then offers a contract to qualified candidates.
- These roles are not subject to the pipeline recruitment process and may lead to long-term careers without typical expectations to move to different positions within the IMF.
Typical selection steps for economist roles:
- Preliminary interview (normally by phone)
- Panel interview to assess technical and behavioral skills
- Written test required for most positions

The IMF also provides other pathways relevant to experienced economists, including Short Term Experts, Special Appointees Program, and Externally-Financed Appointees.