Economic Career Track

Economic Officers build and maintain positive economic and trade relations between the U.S. and other countries. They develop relationships with important economic figures in the business community, government, non-governmental organizations, and academia to promote U.S. economic and commercial interests. Their reporting and analysis on economic conditions and trends in the host country help shape U.S. policy decisions.  
Economic Officers receive extensive in-house training in economics, trade, commercial diplomacy, energy, and environmental issues, and they play a direct role in implementing U.S. economic and trade policy.  

  • Work in an economic section under the direction of a more experienced officer
  • Develop a network of contacts in the host government and local business community so as to keep informed on local developments
  • Prepare economic analyses and recommend strategies for implementation of U.S. policies
  • At a small post, supervise one or two locally-hired employees who work on trade issues and manage a small commercial library

  • Serve as chief of a small economic affairs section, supervising local staff and one or two entry-level officers
  • Brief the Ambassador and visiting dignitaries and business people on local conditions and issues that affect U.S. policy and support the visits of U.S. officials on these matters
  • Report or supervise economic reporting to Washington
  • Persuade the host government to support U.S. policies on a range of economic, environmental and commercial issues

  • Responsible for developing and implementing U.S. policy on bilateral and multilateral economic and trade issues, including debt relief, free trade, international finance and development assistance
  • Officers posted in Washington, D.C. travel as the USG negotiator of bilateral or multilateral treaties on issues such as aviation, environment, or investment.
  • Serve as an office director domestically, supervising varying grades of Civil Service and Foreign Service employees
  • Manage a large economic or political-economic section, advising the Ambassador on the full range of economic issues
  • Make demarches to the host government and meet with host government officials at the Ministries of Finance, Trade, Economy, Communications, Transportation, Environment, Labor, as well as the Central Bank, Civil Aviation Authority, or Chamber of Commerce

Register for the Foreign Service Officer Test (FSOT)