Graduate Recruitment

Capital Economics is looking for capable and highly motivated economists to join the company as trainees, based in London. Suitable candidates must have the enthusiasm and determination to succeed as applied macroeconomists. They must be able to learn quickly, write clearly and work to tight deadlines.

Why choose Capital Economics?

Our Graduate Training Scheme provides a unique opportunity to train as an economist in a growing and dynamic macroeconomic consultancy whose clients are mainly in the financial sector. We are free from both the constraints of the public sector and the conflicting interests of many private City institutions. During the scheme you will acquire the skills and experience needed to succeed as a professional economist.

A career with Capital Economics will allow you to influence and contribute to the economic debate. Your economic thinking and knowledge will develop rapidly in an intellectually challenging environment.

As our economists are our most valuable resource, we will take your learning and development seriously. You will undertake four rotations lasting six months each, have the opportunity for sponsored part-time study, and benefit from attending our regular internal seminars.

Most importantly, every day you will work closely with highly experienced and skilled economists on issues that are at the forefront of modern economics. By working within a global company, you will have the opportunity to make a real difference, to progress quickly and to control the direction of your own career. Many of our graduate trainees have been promoted into senior roles within the company.

Capital Economics is also a sociable place to work. You will have opportunities to participate in activities ranging from sports to quizzes and wine tasting, and to socialise in more informal settings, both with the growing number of young graduate economists and with other colleagues.

What are we offering?

Our London based Graduate Training Scheme holds several attractions:

1. On-the-job training through four rotations, each lasting six months. The rotations will be chosen to expose you to a range of areas of work. These are likely to include at least one developed economy, at least one emerging market region, global financial markets, and the economics of either property or commodities. During each rotation, you will contribute to the regular output of the service.
2. Subject to satisfactory progress in the first year, Capital Economics will fund you in full to undertake part-time study for a post-graduate qualification in economics or a related subject. This could include a Masters degree, a CFA or other professional finance qualifications depending on individual circumstances.  
3. Regular internal training run by our experienced staff. This will include classes on practical skills, such as forecasting techniques; internal seminars on macroeconomics; and a monthly graduate reading group.
4. A competitive starting salary with the potential for a performance-related annual bonus and for rapid salary progression after completion of our scheme.
5. Benefits include: competitive leave package, enhanced pension, life assurance, flexible working, training and development, enhanced maternity and paternity policies, bike to work scheme, regular social events.
6. After completion of the four six-month rotations, you will become a fully-fledged member of one of the teams.

How to Apply

Submit your CV with a short covering letter explaining why you want to be a professional economist, why you want to work for Capital Economics and why you are suited to the role. Also, please indicate how you heard about the Capital Economics graduate training scheme. If you need reasonable adjustments to be made to the application process to ensure you are not at a disadvantage to other candidates, please include this in your cover letter. This is applicable if you have a disability or if you are neurodiverse/hold neurodiverse traits.

The graduate scheme application window for September 2025 start date is closed. The window for September 2026 start date will open in Spring 2026. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can apply?

Suitable candidates are likely to be undergraduates in their last year at university studying economics, economic history, PPE (philosophy, politics and economics), a closely related subject such as banking and finance, or a joint honours degree in which economics forms a substantial component. We will also consider candidates who already have a Masters degree in economics or limited work experience. However, if you have two or more years of work experience we would recommend that you apply directly for a position as an economist.  We hope to be in a position to sponsor strong candidates who need a visa to allow them to work in the UK.

Capital Economics is committed to equal opportunities. We aim to employ graduate trainees from diverse backgrounds and welcome applications from women and ethnic minorities.

How do I apply?

The window for September 2026 start date will open in Spring 2026. 

Please apply by submitting a CV and covering letter. 

CV

• Academic record –  current year university grade, as well as A-Level (or equivalent) grades and subjects.
• Work/Volunteer experience - include any work or volunteer experience. It does not have to be economics-related.
• Extra-curricular activities: involvement in sports, arts, languages, music, university societies

Cover letter

• As much as is reasonable, there should be no typos or grammar mistakes.
• The cover letter should be more than a few lines, the candidate should be trying to impress and differentiate themselves.
• The applicant should highlight any relevant skills, such as Python or R Studio.
• It would be good to demonstrate a strong interest in macroeconomics – courses enjoyed, lectures attended, books read, research projects.

Where will I be based?

During your first two or three years you will be based at our head office in London. Subsequently, you may remain in London but you could alternatively apply for positions in our overseas offices, in New York, Toronto and Singapore.

In London we have a hybrid working policy, whereby most economists work in the office two days per week and from home the rest of the week. Economists can work in the office more frequently if they want to and several do so. Regardless of their working arrangements, economists in the company are in regular contact through daily company-wide and team calls. Capital Economics has a flexible working policy that allows for further flexibility to working hours or place of work, subject to manager and HR approval.

What is the salary?

We offer a competitive starting salary and there is potential for a discretionary, performance-related annual bonus at the end of each calendar year. More details will be provided to candidates who are invited to interview.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and performance-related bonus.
• 25 days annual leave per annum plus birthday leave.
• Volunteering Leave
• Enhanced Pension.
• Life assurance.
• Flexible working policy.
• Training & development.
• Promotion opportunities.
• Enhanced maternity and paternity policies.
• Bike to work scheme.

Are there opportunities for progression and promotion?

Capital Economics is a rapidly growing global company and is steadily expanding its services. There will be plenty of opportunities for progression and promotion for those graduates who develop into skilled, capable and enthusiastic economists.

To see what our former graduate trainees are doing now, see here.

Is there any training?

Graduates work closely with our established economists and get significant on-the-job training. They also participate in a monthly graduate reading group as well as company-wide formal training activities including regular internal classes covering a wide range of practical skills and internal seminars on economics topics. There is also the opportunity to join an internal economics book club as well as outings to public lectures on economics topics taking place in London.

Subject to satisfactory progress in your first year, you will have the opportunity to undertake part-time study for a Masters degree in economics or a related subject, funded by Capital Economics.

When will the Graduate Training Scheme start?

Successful candidates will start their employment with Capital Economics in September of each year. 

What is the selection process?

All applications are read by an economist. We typically invite 10 to 15 applicants to do a writing test and a first interview. Some candidates are invited to a second interview. If you need reasonable adjustments to be made to the application process to ensure you are not at a disadvantage to other candidates, please include this in your cover letter. This is applicable if you have a disability or if you are neurodiverse/hold neurodiverse traits.

In the interviews, we will ask you about your academic background, interests and any related work experience as well as technical questions on macroeconomics. You will also have an opportunity to ask us questions about the role, company or anything else you are curious to know. The interviews will be conducted by the senior Economists who run the graduate scheme and a member of the HR team.

Following this, offers will be made to successful candidates and we will let unsuccessful candidates know the outcome of their applications.