Economic Research & Analytics Intern

Wayne State University; Columbia (SC); Hybrid; USD 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

The South Carolina Department of Commerce is seeking two Economic Research Internship positions on our Research Team. Interns will gain hands-on experience with applied economics, real‑world data, and economic development practice.

Interns work onsite in downtown Columbia, with flexible scheduling around class commitments. Preference for undergrad/grad students in economics, public policy, or related fields; curiosity and analytical skills valued.

Qualifications

• High school diploma; bachelor’s degree may substitute for the required program experience.
• Minimum of 20 hours per week onsite at the Department of Commerce office in downtown Columbia, SC.
• Ability to handle confidential project information with discretion.

Responsibilities

• Support real research requests by collecting, organizing, analyzing, and presenting economic, business, and demographic information.
• Develop briefs and visualizations: charts, tables, maps, infographics for internal/external audiences.
• Monitor economic data and emerging trends; contribute to research briefs and visualizations.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Written communication

Verbal communication

Attention to detail

Collaborative mindset

Education

Undergraduate or graduate degree in Economics, Business, Public Policy, Statistics, Data Analytics, Geography, or related field

High school diploma

Tools

R

Python

Power BI

HTML

ArcGIS/ESRI

Excel

Job description

The South Carolina Department of Commerce is seeking two Economic Research Internship positions on our Research Team. Interns will gain hands-on experience with applied economics, real‑world data, and economic development practice.

Interns work onsite in downtown Columbia, with flexible scheduling around class commitments. Preference for undergrad/grad students in economics, public policy, or related fields; curiosity and analytical skills valued.