Duties

The Congressional Research Service (CRS) Domestic Social Policy Division (DSP) is seeking an Analyst in Labor Policy (Economics) to address issues of employment and income - trends and disparities in labor force participation, employment and unemployment patterns, and the changing nature of earnings distributions, and their underlying causes including technical change, globalization, and differences in the returns to various levels of educational attainment.

The analyst will address questions such as: How is the U.S. labor force growing and changing? What are employment patterns among various demographic, socioeconomic, and educational attainment groups? What labor market effects are associated with more, less, and different types of immigration? What are the employment effects of various federal programs and spending efforts that aim to spur job growth? How have returns to education or skills changed over time? What employment and training policies and educational investments can expand economic opportunities and bring about upward earnings mobility?

The analyst must have a strong quantitative background with demonstrated skills of data manipulation and analysis, strong methodological skills, and have an understanding of and an ability to critically review policy research focused on labor market issues, including those concerning broadly expanding economic opportunity.

Labor economists, demographers, individuals with experience conducting impact evaluations, other social scientists and policy analysts with an understanding of labor economics and strong quantitative research skills are especially encouraged to apply.

CRS works exclusively for the United States Congress, providing policy and legal analysis to committees and Members of both the House and Senate, regardless of party affiliation. As a legislative branch agency within the Library of Congress, CRS has been a valued and respected resource on Capitol Hill for nearly a century.

CRS is well known for analysis that is authoritative, confidential, objective, and nonpartisan. Its highest priority is to ensure that Congress has immediate access to the nation's best thinking on public policy issues of interest to its Members and Committees.

Analyst duties include:

Prepares a variety of descriptive and background reports, memoranda, and written materials on subjects or public policy issues within the employee's area of professional knowledge.

Prepares a variety of analytical reports, memoranda, and written materials on public policy issues within the employee's area of professional knowledge to support congressional decision making.

Participates in planning, organizing, and coordinating group research efforts.

Through personal consultation, assists committees, Members, and staff with consideration of legislative issues by providing information and analysis, and applying professional subject-area knowledge.

Participates in CRS seminars, workshops, and/or outreach programs for committees, Members, and staff.

Locates and provides information requested by Members and committees of Congress or their staff.

This vacancy may be filled in the GS-0110 (Economist) or the GS-0101 (Social Science Analyst) job series. The position description numbers for these positions are: Economist, 0110 (4741) and Social Science, 0101 (4749).

The salary range indicated reflects the locality pay adjustments for the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan area.

The incumbent of this position will work a flexitime or compflex work schedule.

This is a non-supervisory, bargaining unit position.

Relocation expenses will not be authorized for the person(s) selected under this vacancy announcement.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

Library of Congress employees are prohibited from using illegal drugs, including marijuana. The Library is part of the Federal Government and abides by federal law, so regardless of individual state or District of Columbia laws, marijuana use is illegal, considered criminal activity, and can affect your employment at the Library. In addition, past or current drug use and activities (e.g., selling or distributing) may deem you ineligible for employment.

Qualifications

Applicants must have had progressively responsible experience and training sufficient in scope and quality to furnish them with an acceptable level of the following knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties of the position without more than normal supervision.

• Knowledge of labor markets.**
• Ability to analyze public policy issues.**
• Ability to design and utilize research and analytical methods and techniques.**
• Ability to write in a public policy context.**
• Ability to convey analysis and information orally through briefings, consultations and other presentations.
• Ability to lead collaborative research tasks.
• Ability to exercise objectivity in all phases of analysis and consultation.
• Ability to communicate effectively other than in writing.

Education

Applicants who wish to be considered for the GS-0110 (Economist) job series MUST SUBMIT legible copies of transcripts that verify completion of at least one of the following BASIC REQUIREMENTS:

A. Degree: economics, that included at least 21 semester hours in economics and 3 semester hours in statistics, accounting, or calculus.

OR

B.Combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major in economics, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

Unofficial transcripts are acceptable at the time of application. Official transcripts will be required if selected. Failure to submit the required legible documentation at the time of application will result in disqualification of your application.

Applicants who request to be considered for both series but do not submit transcripts supporting their eligibility for the GS-0110 (economist) job series, will only be considered for the GS-0101 (social science analyst) job series.

Failure to submit the required legible documentation at the time of application will result in disqualification of your application.

Foreign Education - Education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed equivalent to conventional/accredited U.S. education programs to be acceptable for Federal employment. If your college/university is outside the U.S., your transcripts must be accompanied by a report from a credential evaluation service that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or the Association of International Credentials Evaluators (AICE) . Failure to submit a foreign education evaluation report will result in disqualification of your application.

Additional information

Although it is the Library's policy to afford the maximum pay benefit to employees when setting rates of pay, a new appointee who has had no previous Federal service will generally be paid at step one of the grade.

The Library of Congress is an equal opportunity employer. Women, minorities, and persons with disabilities who meet eligibility requirements are strongly encouraged to apply.

Applicants must submit a complete application package that is received by the closing date of this announcement.

Appointment/retention is subject to a favorable evaluation of an appropriate personnel security/suitability investigation. For more information, please see: Vetting Process

This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please email ADA@loc.gov. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

Applicants with disabilities may be considered under special hiring procedures and must submit an appropriate certificate of eligibility when applying for this position. The proof or disability/certification may be issued by the State Vocational Rehabilitation Office, Disability Services or Career Services office of the applicant's college or university, or the Department of Veterans Affairs. The letter must verify that the applicant has a severe disability and must be dated within three years of the date of the application. Certification from health care providers are not accepted. For more information contact the Library's Office of EEO/Diversity Programs at 202-707-6024 or email spp@loc.gov. FAILURE TO SUBMIT YOUR CERTIFICATION WILL CAUSE YOUR APPLICATION TO NOT BE CONSIDERED UNDER THE SELECTIVE PLACEMENT PROGRAM.

The Library of Congress is the national library of the United States and is part of the Legislative Branch of the Federal government. As such, all positions are in the excepted service.

The Library reserves the right to fill a lesser or greater number of vacancies indicated during the life of this vacancy announcement.

Initial permanent appointments to the Library of Congress require completion of a one-year probationary period. Probationary periods served at other Federal agencies do not count toward this requirement.

The Library of Congress may offer repayment for all or part of federally insured student loans. However, not all service units within the Library of Congress participates in the repayment of federally insured student loans. Therefore, determination to repay a federally insured student loan is subject to approval by the appropriate service unit.

A "Not to Exceed" (NTE) status is used to identify an appointment with a specific ending date. However, the Library has the right to separate a NTE employee at any time due to either performance issues or budget constraints.

Are you a veteran? Please indicate the type of veterans' preference you are claiming in your application materials and/or applicant profile and provide the appropriate supporting documentation to validate your claim. Those applying for 5-point preference must submit Member Copy 4 of your DD 214. Those applying for 10-point preference must fill out an SF-15 (click here for the form) and provide the required documentation listed on the back of the form. If required supporting documentation is not attached, Veterans' Preference will not be considered in the application process.