Economist - Agricultural Commodities

Oxford Economics, a world-leading global economic research and consultancy firm, is seeking to appoint an Economist to join our Industry Subscriptions team, with a focus on agricultural and soft commodities. This is an exciting opportunity for an early-career economist to contribute to Oxford Economics’ commodity forecasting, analysis, and client-facing research, with a particular emphasis on agricultural commodity markets and economic activity in the agriculture sector.

The successful candidate will support the production of regular forecasts for agricultural and soft commodities, alongside analysis of the economic drivers affecting commodity prices, supply and demand, trade flows, production conditions, and sector activity. They will combine strong economics and analytical skills with clear communication, attention to detail, and an interest in translating data, market developments, and modelling outputs into practical insight for subscription clients.

This role would suit an economist with around 1–3 years of professional experience who is looking to develop their expertise in agricultural commodities, commodity price forecasting, sector analysis, modelling, and client-facing economic research within a leading global economics business.

Agricultural Commodity Forecasting & Analysis: Support the production, maintenance, and improvement of regular forecasts for agricultural and soft commodities, ensuring outputs are accurate, timely, analytically robust, and commercially relevant.
Agriculture Sector Analysis: Analyse economic activity in the agriculture sector, including supply and demand conditions, production trends, trade flows, input costs, weather-related risks, policy developments, and other drivers affecting agricultural commodity markets.
Commodity Research & Client Insight: Contribute to written analysis, reports, briefings, presentations, and webinars covering agricultural commodity price developments, risks, outlooks, and implications for clients.
Economic Modelling: Assist with the development and enhancement of commodity and sector forecasting models, using economic theory, statistical techniques, and data-driven approaches to support forecast accuracy and analytical depth.
Data Management & Interpretation: Work with economic, financial, agricultural, trade, and commodity market datasets to identify trends, assess developments, and generate meaningful insights for internal and external audiences.
Client Support: Support the preparation of client-facing materials and, over time, contribute to client meetings, webinars, and presentations by helping communicate commodity market analysis and forecasts clearly.
Product & Methodology Development: Contribute to the ongoing development of Oxford Economics’ commodity and industry subscription products, including improvements to datasets, visualisations, methodologies, and analytical frameworks.
Cross-Team Collaboration: Work closely with economists, data specialists, editors, and commercial teams across Oxford Economics to support consistency, quality, and relevance across subscription outputs.
Quality & Process Support: Help maintain high standards across team deliverables through careful checking, review, documentation, and continuous improvement of analytical processes.

Around 1–3 years of professional experience in an economics-focused role, ideally within commodity research, agricultural economics, economic research, forecasting, consulting, government, financial services, market analysis, or a corporate strategy environment.
Strong academic background in economics, agricultural economics, commodities, finance, or a closely related discipline. A postgraduate qualification would be advantageous.
Good understanding of macroeconomic analysis and commodity market drivers, including supply and demand, trade, production, inventories, input costs, exchange rates, inflation, policy developments, and business cycles.
Some experience working with economic data, commodity market data, forecasting models, and quantitative analysis.
Strong Excel skills, with exposure to EViews, R, Python, Stata, or similar analytical tools.
Ability to interpret datasets and translate quantitative findings into clear, commercially relevant insight.
Strong written communication skills, with the ability to contribute to economic commentary, reports, presentations, and client-facing analysis.
Clear verbal communication skills, with confidence discussing economic analysis with colleagues and, over time, external clients.
High attention to detail, strong organisational skills, and the ability to manage competing priorities under deadlines.
Commercial awareness and an interest in how agricultural commodity markets, economic conditions, and sector trends affect business strategy, investment decisions, and policy.
A proactive, collaborative approach, with the ability to work independently while contributing effectively to a wider team.

Desirable Experience

Exposure to agricultural commodities, soft commodities, agricultural economics, commodity price forecasting, market intelligence, or subscription-based economic research.
Familiarity with agricultural markets such as grains, oilseeds, livestock, sugar, coffee, cocoa, cotton, or other soft commodities.
Familiarity with input-output analysis, econometric modelling, scenario analysis, or other applied economic modelling techniques.
Experience creating charts, dashboards, or visual outputs using PowerPoint, Tableau, Power BI, or similar tools.
Experience contributing to research outputs for clients, senior stakeholders, or external audiences.

Here are some of the benefits we offer in the UK to ensure you feel valued, supported, and thrive at work:

Private Healthcare
Employee Assistance Program
Enhanced Maternity and Paternity Leave
Workplace Nursery Scheme
Cycle to Work Scheme
Hybrid/Flexible Working
Team Gatherings and Connection Boost!

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO)
Oxford Economics is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.