Can Agents Work?

Jobs / Science and research / 19-3011.01

Environmental Economists

Conduct economic analysis related to environmental protection and use of the natural environment, such as water, air, land, and renewable energy resources. Evaluate and quantify benefits, costs, incentives, and impacts of alternative options using economic principles and statistical techniques.

US jobs
17,790 (SOC 19-3011 group, "Economists")
Median wage
$124,720 a year
Job family
Science and research

Can agents do the work of environmental economists?

We read the evidence for the whole job family, Science and research: Some tasks (no change in 12 months)

Agents complete 20% or more of the tasks (or projects) on a direct benchmark.

Evidence: CORE-Bench, declared solved.

0% of this occupation's work, by O*NET work activities, is measured by a direct benchmark (figures for the SOC 19-3011 group).

  • 11%Analyze market or industry conditionsNot measured
  • 8%Investigate the environmental impact of industrial or development activitiesNot measured
  • 6%Present research or technical informationNot measured
  • 5%Develop scientific or mathematical theories or modelsNot measured
  • 5%Teach academic or vocational subjectsNot measured
  • 5%Maintain current knowledge in area of expertiseNot measured
  • 4%Develop research plans or methodologiesNot measured
  • 4%Assess characteristics or impacts of regulations or policiesNot measured

Benchmarks for the job family

These cover work in science and research, not always this occupation's tasks.

Direct evidence

Work benchmarks mapped primary to this family. They set the step when they report how many tasks agents complete.

  • CORE-Benchby Princeton UniversityTask level · CORE-Bench-Hard accuracy (public test set)
    95.5%Claude Code + Claude Opus 4.5 (after manual regrading) · 3 Dec 2025
    Solved

Also relevant

These benchmarks cover part of this family's work, or have no result yet. They do not set its step.

Typical tasks

From O*NET 31.0. Core tasks first. Few of these tasks have a benchmark today.

  • Write technical documents or academic articles to communicate study results or economic forecasts.
  • Conduct research on economic and environmental topics, such as alternative fuel use, public and private land use, soil conservation, air and water pollution control, and endangered species protection.
  • Collect and analyze data to compare the environmental implications of economic policy or practice alternatives.
  • Assess the costs and benefits of various activities, policies, or regulations that affect the environment or natural resource stocks.
  • Prepare and deliver presentations to communicate economic and environmental study results, to present policy recommendations, or to raise awareness of environmental consequences.
  • Develop programs or policy recommendations to achieve environmental goals in cost-effective ways.
  • Develop economic models, forecasts, or scenarios to predict future economic and environmental outcomes.
  • Demonstrate or promote the economic benefits of sound environmental regulations.
  • Conduct research to study the relationships among environmental problems and patterns of economic production and consumption.
  • Perform complex, dynamic, and integrated mathematical modeling of ecological, environmental, or economic systems.
  • Write social, legal, or economic impact statements to inform decision makers for natural resource policies, standards, or programs.
  • Teach courses in environmental economics.
Other job titles for this occupation (11)

Environmental Economist · Natural Resource Economist · Research Economist · Resource Economist · Agricultural Economist · Ecological Economist · Energy Economist · Environment and Natural Resources Economics Researcher · Environmental Protection Economist · Marine Resource Economist · Natural Resource Specialist