Economist

Duties include but are not limited to:

• Provide collection expertise and feedback to the development of Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) survey programs to effectively and efficiently execute survey activities both directly and through grantees and to conduct an active program of information and outreach for BLS products.

• Provide technical assistance and guidance to cooperating state agencies in the collection processing estimating benchmarking analysis and interpretation of data generated by the States and reviewed by the Branch programs.

• Communicate with regional and state staff in translating statistical program requirements into various automated systems.

• Through on-site reviews and analysis of reports assures the integrity and validity of data produced by cooperating state agencies.

• Collect data and coordinate quality control work including response analysis studies and other special projects to improve overall program output.

Duties at the GS-07 are development leading up to the full performance level of the GS-12.

• Must be a U.S. Citizen.
• Must be at least 16 years old.
• Requires a probationary period if the requirement has not been met.
• Candidate required to obtain the necessary security/investigation level.
• Requires a valid drivers license.

Applicants must meet the Basic Requirements and the Minimum qualifications to qualify for each series and 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:
Applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level GS-5 in the Federal Service.

Specialized Experience is the experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge skills and abilities (KSAs) 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. Some examples of qualifying specialized experience include:

GS-07: Assist in planning and monitory program productivity and .deliverable from state partners; assist in review of technical procedures operating instructions forms and other collection materials; and utilize program systems used in data capture and/or review.

OR

Education Substitution:
GS-07: 1 year of graduate-level education or superior academic achievement. Superior Academic Achievement is based on (1) class standing (2) grade-point average or (3) honor society membership.

1. Class standing -- Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college university or major subdivision such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration based on completed courses.
2. Grade-point average (G.P.A.) -- Applicants must have a grade-point average of: 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 (B or better) as recorded on their official transcript or as computed based on 4 years of education or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 (B or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum.
3. Election to membership in a national scholastic honor society. A list of acceptable honor societies can be found at Certified Member Societies

OR

Combination of Education and Specialized Experience
GS-07: An appropriate combination of graduate level education and specialized experience (less than a year) that when combined totals to one year.

Education must have been gained in a curriculum that is qualifying for the position to be filled. Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this position.

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.