Recent Graduate - Economist

Full Job Description

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) measures labor market activity, working conditions, price changes, and productivity in the U.S. economy to support public and private decision making.

This is an appointment under the DOL Recent Graduates program. The program duration is one year.

Upon successful completion of the program and at the agency's discretion, the appointee may be converted to a term or permanent position in the competitive service.

For more information, click Pathways Programs.

Applicants must have graduated, within the past two years, (with an associate, bachelor, master, professional, doctorate, diploma, vocational, technical degree, or certificate, etc.) from a qualifying educational institution or career or technical educational program including registered Apprenticeship Programs, Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, Job Corps, Climate Corps).

Applicants must meet the Basic Requirements and the Minimum Qualifications to qualify for each grade they wish to be considered for.

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: Minimum Qualifications: Economist, GS-0110: 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. Specialized experience should include a thorough range of complex economic professional work.

GS-9: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-7 grade level.

Qualifying specialized experience includes: Assisted with portions of investigations involving economic topics.

An experience indicator at this level includes assisted and supported senior economists and/or project leaders with portions of their research to prepare preliminary interpretative reports.

Examples include collecting, compiling, and arranging economic data for the purpose of drafting preliminary analyses; or, analyzing and interpreting economic data for the purpose of drafting preliminary findings; or, assisted with planning and coordinating the collection of economic data or other survey data to include developing and providing training, overseeing quality assurance activities, and preparing analytical reports on collection progress.

OR Education Substitution: 2 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree.

OR Combination of Education and Specialized Experience: Combinations of successfully completed graduate level education and specialized experience may be used to meet total experience requirements (only graduate education in excess of 18 semester hours may be used to qualify applicants for this grade level).

The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.

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:

Duties may include, but are not limited to the following.

Review, collect and analyze data primarily for the purpose of publishing economic statistics and/or improving the quality of the data and program outputs.

Use computer software to analyze and communicate information in the appropriate format. Assist in the development, maintenance, and updating of databases and processing systems.

Prepare clear and concise written responses, reports, and technical summaries.

Identify underlying trends and apparent discrepancies in data and prepare summaries of findings, recommendations, and conclusions. Plan and coordinates the collection of economic data for BLS surveys.