Economist

Full Job Description

EBSA plays a vital role in protecting the retirement, health, and other job-based benefits of America's workers, retirees, and their families.

We issue effective regulations, offer comprehensive education and assistance to workers, plan sponsors, fiduciaries, and service providers, and rigorously enforce the law.

We serve workers, families, and the broader employee benefits community by protecting the security and integrity of the nation's benefit systems. To learn more about EBSA, click here.

Applicants must meet the eligibility requirements of time-in-grade (52 weeks at the next lower grade), time-after-competitive-appointment (90 days), and minimum qualifications (52 weeks equivalent to the next lower grade in federal service).

These requirements must be met within 30 days of the announcement closing date.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS Economist, GS-0110: A) Degree in economics, that included at least 21 semester hours in economics and 3 semester hours in statistics, accounting or calculus.

OR B) A combination of education and experience - courses equivalent to a major in economics, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

In addition to meeting the Basic Requirement above, applicants must also meet the minimum qualifications to be considered.

Specialized Experience is the experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to perform the duties of the position successfully, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled.

To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level.

For GS-11: Applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 in the Federal Service.

Qualifying specialized experience includes: Using economic theory and relevant statistical and econometric methods to conduct analysis; OR Researching issues related to health and retirement benefits; AND Using statistical software such as SAS, Stata, Python, or R to manage and analyze data.

OR 3 full academic years of progressively higher graduate education OR Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree. OR You may qualify on a combination of education and experience.

For GS-12: Applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 in the Federal Service.

Qualifying specialized experience includes: Using economic theory and relevant statistical and econometric methods to analyze health and retirement benefits or regulatory issues; OR Querying, analyzing, and interpreting data on health and retirement benefits (e.g.

Form 5500, Form M-1, Current Population Survey, Survey of Income and Program Participation, Health and Retirement Study, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, Survey of Consumer Finances, Panel Study of Income Dynamics, Morningstar, health care claims).

For GS-13: Applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 in the Federal Service.

Qualifying specialized experience includes: Conducting research projects examining health and retirement benefits or regulations using economic theory and relevant statistical and econometric methods; OR Leading projects that query, analyze, and interpret statistical data on health and retirement benefits (e.g.

Form 5500, Form M-1, Current Population Survey, Survey of Income and Program Participation, Health and Retirement Study, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, Survey of Consumer Finances, Panel Study of Income Dynamics, Morningstar, health care claims data).

Topics and methods relevant to this position include, but are not limited to: health and retirement plans savings, investments, and financial markets health insurance claims and processing health and life insurance, healthcare and prescription drug markets Social insurance programs, Social Security, Medicare, and/or Medicaid public, applied micro, industrial, financial, or regulatory economics statistical sampling and program evaluations For additional information, refer to the Office of Personnel Management Operating Manual for Qualification Standards, Group Coverage Qualification Standards for Professional and Scientific Positions.

Individual Occupation Requirements for Economist Series GS-110. Major Duties:

This position is located in the Employee Benefits Security Administration's Office of Research and Analysis (ORA).

ORA's responsibilities include providing economic analysis in support of regulatory policy development for retirement and welfare benefit plans, conducting economic research into employee benefits policy issues, and producing statistical and analytical support to EBSA's enforcement and other programs.

The following are the duties of this position at the GS-13 level.

If you are selected at a lower grade level, you will have the opportunity to learn to perform all these duties and will receive training to help you grow in this position.

Major duties for this position include but are not limited to: Conduct applied economic and statistical analysis of policy, enforcement, legislative and regulatory issues relating to employment-based pension and health benefits.

Analyze complex data related to employee benefits using statistical software, such as SAS, Stata, Python or R, to identify and interpret trends, address economic problems, and produce statistics.

Prepare statistical and economic talking points, summaries, research findings, comprehensive reports, and other documents.

Conduct descriptive, statistical, and econometric analysis relating to agency programs and objectives.

Contribute to EBSA's economic research and regulatory program by conducting analytically sound economic analysis and demonstrating an understanding of current legal and regulatory frameworks, policy and political contexts, and market practices and conditions.

Perform additional duties as assigned.