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Financial analyst

Also called m&a analyst, credit analyst, banking analyst

Financial analysts conduct economic research and elicit valuable analyses on financial matters such as profitability, liquidity, solvency, and asset management. They provide recommendations on financial matters for decision-making processes. Financial analysts work in both the public and the private sector.

Will there be jobs?Yes, good prospects57 jobs to fill by 2035 for every 100 people doing this work today.Business and administration professionalsWhat does it pay?Above averageFrom about €2,000 (Bulgaria) to €7,100 (Luxembourg) a month, depending on the country.Estimate · Business and administration professionalsWhat do I need to study?Usually a degree8 in 10 have a degree.Business and administration professionalsWill AI change it?StronglyLevel 6 of 6. AI could take on part of most tasks, but none fully.Financial analysts · ILO

What you'd do

Financial analysts · ILO
  • Analysing financial information to produce forecasts of business, industry, and economic conditions for use in making investment decisions
  • Maintaining knowledge and staying abreast of developments in the fields of industrial technology, business, finance, and economic theory
  • Interpreting data affecting investment programmes, such as price, yield, stability, future trends in investment risks and economic influences
  • Monitoring economic, industrial, and corporate developments through analysis of information obtained from financial publications and services, investment banking firms, government agencies, trade publications, company sources and personal interviews
  • Recommending investments and investment timing to companies, investment firm staff or the investing public
  • Determining the prices at which securities should be syndicated and offered to the public
  • Preparing plans of action for investment based on financial analyses
  • Evaluating and comparing the relative quality of various securities in a given industry
  • Presenting oral and written reports on general economic trends, individual corporations, and entire industries
Interpret financial statementsAdvise on financial mattersCreate a financial reportOffer financial servicesPerform business analysis+ 4 more essential skills
What the work is like
  • Indoors
  • Sitting most of the day
  • Lots of contact with people
  • Some freedom to decide
  • Often more than 40 hours a week
  • Deadlines most weeks
  • Some repetitive tasks
US data: based on the O*NET profile of the US job "Financial Quantitative Analysts"

Will there be jobs?

Yes, good prospects

Many jobs will need filling by 2035.

People working as business and administration professionals in the EU
6.65m9.73m13.35m 201520232035

Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.

Jobs to fill, 2026–2035
2,909,000 new jobs 3,080,000 replacing leavers
Jobs to fill per 100 people working now
Business and administration professionals57
All jobs29
Right now
4 of 27 countries report a shortage of financial analysts, 6 a surplus.
Financial analysts · EURES

What does it pay?

Above average

Pay depends a lot on the country: from about €2,000 a month (Bulgaria) to €7,100 (Luxembourg), before tax.

Pick a country at the top of the page to see typical pay there, for people under 30, and compared with all jobs.

Among professionals in the EU, women earn 21% less per hour than men. Professionals · Eurostat

What do I need to study?

Usually a degree

A degree in finance, banking and insurance is the usual route.

Highest qualification of business and administration professionals (EU, 2025)
Degree 81%Vocational 11%General secondary 6%Basic schooling 2%
Fields that teach it
Finance, banking and insurance · Management and administration
Vocational route, EU
3 in 10 trainees in this field
Business and law graduates in a matching job
66% in the EU

1,314 institutions in the EU offer business and law bachelor's degrees. Pick a country at the top of the page to see where to study and the official course finders.

Will AI change it?

Strongly

AI could take on part of most tasks, but none fully.

How exposed is this job? ILO scale
Very low
Low
Some tasks
Moderate
Significant
High

Average task score 0.62 on a scale from 0 (AI can't do it) to 1 (AI could do it fully).

See the score for each of the 9 tasks
Presenting oral and written reports on general economic trends, individual corporations, and entire industries0.68
Analysing financial information to produce forecasts of business, industry, and economic conditions for use in making investment decisions0.65
Recommending investments and investment timing to companies, investment firm staff or the investing public0.64
Determining the prices at which securities should be syndicated and offered to the public0.64
Monitoring economic, industrial, and corporate developments through analysis of information obtained from financial publications and services, investment banking firms, government agencies, trade publications, company sources and personal interviews0.64
Evaluating and comparing the relative quality of various securities in a given industry0.64
Preparing plans of action for investment based on financial analyses0.62
Interpreting data affecting investment programmes, such as price, yield, stability, future trends in investment risks and economic influences0.62
Maintaining knowledge and staying abreast of developments in the fields of industrial technology, business, finance, and economic theory0.46

Based on what AI could technically do when assessed in 2025. It is not a forecast for a future year, and not a forecast of job losses. Scores for financial analysts. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).