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Financial trader

Also called equity trader, securities trader, derivatives trader

Financial traders buy and sell financial products such as assets, shares and bonds for private clients, banks or companies. They monitor the financial markets closely and aim to maximise profit and to minimise risk through their transactions.

Will there be jobs?Average prospects25 jobs to fill by 2035 for every 100 people doing this work today.Business and administration associate professionalsWhat does it pay?About averageFrom about €1,600 (Bulgaria) to €6,300 (Denmark) a month, depending on the country.Estimate · Business and administration associate professionalsWhat do I need to study?Usually post-secondary or a short degree5 in 10 have a degree. 3 in 10 train through vocational routes.Business and administration associate professionalsWill AI change it?StronglyLevel 6 of 6. AI could take on part of most tasks, but none fully.Securities and finance dealers and brokers · ILO

What you'd do

Securities and finance dealers and brokers · ILO
  • Obtaining information about the financial circumstances of customers and companies in which investments may be made
  • Analysing market trends for securities, bonds, stocks and other financial instruments, including foreign exchange
  • Informing prospective customers about market conditions and prospects
  • Advising on and participating in the negotiation of terms for, and organization of, loans and placement of stocks and bonds in the financial market to raise capital for customers
  • Recording and transmitting buy and sell orders for securities, stocks, bonds or other financial instruments and for foreign exchange for future or immediate delivery
Obtain financial informationProvide financial product informationOperate financial instrumentsAnalyse market financial trendsAdvise on financial matters+ 6 more essential skills
What the work is like
  • Indoors
  • Sitting most of the day
  • Constant contact with people, including the public
  • Good 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 "Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents"

Will there be jobs?

Average prospects

A typical number of jobs will need filling by 2035.

People working as business and administration associate professionals in the EU
13.29m14.1m14.28m 201520232035

Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.

Jobs to fill, 2026–2035
55,000 new jobs 3,460,000 replacing leavers
Jobs to fill per 100 people working now
Business and administration associate professionals25
All jobs29
Right now
2 of 27 countries report a shortage of securities and finance dealers and brokers, 6 a surplus.
Securities and finance dealers and brokers · EURES

What does it pay?

About average

Pay depends a lot on the country: from about €1,600 a month (Bulgaria) to €6,300 (Denmark), 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 technicians and associate professionals in the EU, women earn 16% less per hour than men. Technicians and associate professionals · Eurostat

What do I need to study?

Usually post-secondary or a short degree

Post-secondary training or a short degree in finance, banking and insurance is the usual route.

Highest qualification of business and administration associate professionals (EU, 2025)
Degree 51%Vocational 31%General secondary 13%Basic schooling 6%
Field that teaches it
Finance, banking and insurance
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 0.63 on a scale from 0 (AI can't do it) to 1 (AI could do it fully).

See the score for each of the 5 tasks
Recording and transmitting buy and sell orders for securities, stocks, bonds or other financial instruments and for foreign exchange for future or immediate delivery0.66
Analysing market trends for securities, bonds, stocks and other financial instruments, including foreign exchange0.65
Informing prospective customers about market conditions and prospects0.65
Obtaining information about the financial circumstances of customers and companies in which investments may be made0.63
Advising on and participating in the negotiation of terms for, and organization of, loans and placement of stocks and bonds in the financial market to raise capital for customers0.57

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 securities and finance dealers and brokers. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).