How to become an economist in imf?

IMF has a varied array of job opportunities that reflects different levels of responsibilities, expertise and duties required in the organization’s activities.

There are 3 macro-categories in IMF’s job opportunities roster:

a) IMF Entry-Level Recruitment Programs

This is IMF’s recruitment program for entry-level economists, research assistants. These young professionals will work in a variety of departments and make an immediate contribution to IMF’s mission while providing a unique platform to launch the candidate’s career.

b) IMF Experienced Professionals

This is IMF’s recruitment program for experienced candidates and it spans a wide range of areas, including economics, finance, legal, accounting, communications, human resources, information technology, library, security, and facilities.

c) IMF Support Staff

This is IMF’s recruitment program for support staff positions across all departments and areas. Other than for the Research Assistant Program, support staff positions are recruited locally in Washington DC metropolitan area.

Within those categories, opportunities are subdivided in:

IMF Economist Program (EP)

As part of IMF’s Entry-Level Recruitment Program, the IMF EP will give candidates hands-on exposure to a cross-section of IMF work and an opportunity to apply their research and analytical skills directly to essential policy work which impacts IMF’s 190 member countries.

IMF Research Assistant Program (RAP)

As part of IMF’s Entry-Level Recruitment Program as well as the institution’s Support Staff, the IMF RAP will give candidates a unique opportunity to acquire valuable hands-on work experience in the IMF’s operational and policy work, use and improve their analytical skills, increase their knowledge of technology, information systems, as well as their research abilities. The program has a maximum duration of two years.

IMF Fund Internship Program (FIP)

As part of IMF’s Entry-Level Recruitment Program, the IMF Internship, also known as the IMF Fund Internship Program (FIP), aims to offer graduate students an insider experience of the organization. When selected, interns work under the supervision of an experienced staff member to carry out a research project and prepare a research paper, which may be published internationally at the end of the internship period.

You can check out more about the IMF Internship Program here!

IMF Experienced Economists

As part of IMF’s Experienced Professionals Program, Experienced Economists will have the opportunity to work with a team of qualified economists focused on macroeconomics. They will contribute to a wide range of important policy issues that span different branches of economics by providing analysis, policy, and program design, as well as being able to help IMF’s member countries address their specific economic challenges.

IMF Short-term Assignments for Specialized Experts

As part of IMF’s Experienced Professionals Program, IMF’s short-term experts will undertake short-term assignments in IMF’s member countries to provide subject matter expertise. They will be able to make a direct impact on the economic well-being of IMF’s member countries as well as help them design and implement policies aimed at reducing vulnerabilities to economic threats, therefore contributing to a more robust and stable global economy.

IMF Externally-Financed Appointee Program (EFA) and Special Appointee Program (SAP)

As part of IMF’s Experienced Professionals Program, the IMF EFA and IMF SAP initiatives grant candidates with an opportunity to assume IMF’s responsibilities in their area of expertise, build their proficiency in the use of technology and innovative methodologies, as well as gain exposure to the work of international organizations in general. The EFA is an externally-financed contractual appointment for a duration of up to two years, while the SAP is internal to the IMF and is a contractual appointment for a duration of up to one year.

IMF Specialized Career Stream Professionals

As part of IMF’s Experienced Professionals Program, these highly-skilled professionals are recruited from a broad range of areas to work on unique and complex issues dealt with by the IMF. Communications, Facilities Management Services, Finance and Accounting, Human Resources, Information Technology and Language Services are some of the various fields in IMF’s activities that will require the expertise of these professionals.

IMF Research Assistants (Economics)

Same as Research Assistant Program (RAP), but focused on the Support Staff and limited to candidates physically residing in the Metropolitan Washington, D.C. region.

• Choose commerce or science in higher secondary.
• Get bachelor's and master's degrees in economics.
• Complete your doctorate.
• Start working in a research centre.
• Complete a certification course.
• Develop your skills.
• Choose your job specification.
• Publish papers and books.

The Macroeconomist Training Program (MTP) is an outreach initiative to young scholars and professionals to help them gain an understanding of how the IMF uses financial programming and other tools to analyze macroeconomic issues and provide policy recommendations.

Under this program, selected applicants are invited for a residential workshop* to join lectures by former IMF economists and undertake group work on a mock IMF-style country surveillance exercise.

Launched in August 2017, seventeen MTP sessions have been held for a total of 330 youths from 44 countries (as of March 2023). These courses have served as a launching pad to the full online courses offered by the IMF Institute for Capacity Development.

* During the COVID-19 pandemic, the courses were offered virtually.

The lectures will provide an overview of IMF economic surveillance, including the use of its financial programming tool. Students will discuss real country cases of bilateral surveillance and lending programs, and undertake their own analysis of a country case as a group, using the tools introduced in the course.

For the English course: Students studying in Japan on Master’s/ PhD degree programs in macroeconomics, international finance, development economics, and other related fields. Young professionals and undergraduate students can also apply.

For the Japanese course: Undergraduate students studying in Japan in macroeconomics, international finance, development economics, and other related fields. Students pursuing a master’s degree and young professionals may also apply.

A Certificate of Participation will be granted to participants who complete this workshop.

English course

Jerry Schiff (PhD) Dr. Schiff currently teaches at George Washington University. Previously, he was Deputy Director of the Asia and Pacific Department of the IMF. He held a number of senior positions at the IMF. He is also a visiting professor at the University of Tokyo Graduate School of Public Policy.

You can check out more about the IMF Internship Program here! Education requirement: Candidate must have an advanced degree (master's/PhD) in macroeconomics or a related field such as monetary economics, financial economics, public finance, international trade, or econometrics.