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Economist or Statistician (Economist)

Employer
USAJobs
Location
Washington, D.C
Closing date
Oct 29, 2019
Duties

Summary

This position is located in the Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) of the Department of Labor (DOL) is the principal Federal statistical agency responsible for measuring labor market activity, working conditions, and price changes in the economy. Its mission is to collect, analyze, and disseminate essential economic information to support the public and private decision-making that forms the basis of our democratic, free-enterprise system.

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

This is an interdisciplinary position and may be filled either as an Economist or Statistician (Economics).

This position is located in the Employment Projections program, Office of Employment and Unemployment Statistics.

Duties include but are not limited to:

1. Leads or independently conducts statistical tests of hypotheses formulated by Research Economists, and/or serve as team leader for special projects or studies.

2. Conducts analysis on employment information and data collected in various statistical surveys and/or for publications.

3. Prepares written products in final draft which may include: Departmental or Bureau of Labor Statistics press releases; pre-scheduled releases on labor force developments; technical reports; bulletins; analytical articles for other governmental and non-governmental publications; and responses to congress or advisory committees.

4. Acts as project manager for special studies related to employment, unemployment, hours and earnings. Tasks may include, but are not limited to: development of special questions to be added to surveys; detailed analysis of a particular labor force development; and analysis of labor market problems.

5. Incumbent must be familiar with statistical software packages to analyze data and prepare briefing and other informational products.

Travel Required

Not required

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
13

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • U.S. Citizenship.
  • Appointment to this position may require a background investigation.
  • Must be at least 16 years of age.
  • Requires a probationary period if the requirement has not been met.
  • This announcement may be used to fill additional like positions


Applicants must meet time-in-grade, time-after-competitive-appointment and qualifications requirements within 30 calendar days after the closing date of the vacancy to be eligible for consideration for selection.

Federal Employees Please Note: Your SF-50 must include enough information to be able to determine that time-in-grade requirements have been met and reflects your position title, pay plan/series/grade, tenure and the type of appointment (i.e. competitive/excepted). In some cases you may need to submit more than one SF-50.

Reference the "Required Documents" section for additional requirements.

-This position has no further promotion potential.
-This position is inside the bargaining unit.
-A writing sample may be requested at the time of the interview.
-This announcement may be used to fill additional like positions.
-This position will not be filled until the Department's Placement Assistance Programs have been fully utilized.
-Applications for this announcement will be accepted online only by clicking the "Apply Online" button.

Qualifications

To qualify, candidates must meet the below two requirements. You must submit all unofficial transcripts (in English) that shows proof of meeting the BASIC QUALIFICATIONS, and your resume must show detailed evidence of meeting the GS-13 QUALIFICATIONS.

I. Basic Qualifications:

For an Economist, applicants must have one of the following:

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. Examples of qualifying experience include (a) individual economic research assignments requiring planning, information assembly, analysis and evaluation, conclusions and report preparation; (b) supervisory or project coordination assignments involving a staff of professional economists, and requiring the evaluation and interpretation of economic information; or (c) teaching assignments in a college or university that included both class instruction in economics subjects and one of the following (1) personal research that produced evidence of results, (2) direction of graduate theses in economics, or (3) service as a consultant or advisor on technical economics problems.

For a Statistician, applicants must have one of the following:

A. Degree: that included 15 semester hours in statistics (or in mathematics and statistics, provided at least 6 semester hours were in statistics), and 9 additional semester hours in one or more of the following: physical or biological sciences; medicine, education, or engineering; or in the social sciences including demography, history, economics, social welfare, geography, international relations, social or cultural anthropology, health sociology, political science, public administration, psychology, etc. Credit toward meeting statistical course requirements should be given for courses in which 50 percent of the course content appears to be statistical methods, e.g., courses that included studies in research methods in psychology or economics such as tests and measurements or business cycles, or courses in methods of processing mass statistical data such as tabulating methods or electronic data processing.

OR

B. Combination of education and experience -- courses as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. The experience should have included a full range of professional statistical work such as (a) sampling, (b) collecting, computing, and analyzing statistical data, and (c) applying statistical techniques such as measurement of central tendency, dispersion, skewness, sampling error, simple and multiple correlation, analysis of variance, and tests of significance.

II. GS-13 QUALIFICATIONS:

In addition to the qualifications listed above, applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, GS-12, in the Federal service. This experience must have equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. This experience must demonstrate a thorough understanding of economic principles and theories and a wide knowledge of current economic factors and their implications. Examples of qualifying experience include: Experience applying comprehensive knowledge and understanding of economics or statistical theory to survey collection operations; or experience in general economic survey collection design, sampling approaches, sample refinement requirements, data collection approaches, systems development processes and quality assurance principles.

Your resume must include a detailed description or evidence of your specialized experience.

Education Requirements:
Applicants MUST submit academic transcripts as proof of meeting the qualifying educational requirements. Because specific course work is required, applicants MUST submit transcripts from each academic institution in which the required courses were taken in order to receive credit for that course work. See the Required Documents section for submitting necessary proof. Failure to submit sufficient academic documentation necessary to demonstrate the educational requirements will result in an application being deemed incomplete and removal from further consideration.

Education

Any applicant falsely claiming an academic degree from an accredited school will be subject to actions ranging from disqualification from federal employment to removal from federal service.

If your education was completed at a foreign college or university, you must show comparability to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States and comparability to applicable minimum course work requirements for this position. Click Evaluation of Foreign Education for more information.

Additional information

DOL seeks to attract and retain a high performing and diverse workforce in which employees' differences are respected and valued to better meet the varying needs of the diverse customers we serve. DOL fosters a diverse and inclusive work environment that promotes collaboration, flexibility and fairness so that all individuals are able to participate and contribute to their full potential.

Federal Employees Please Note: Your SF-50 must include enough information to be able to determine that time-in-grade requirements have been met and reflects your position title, pay plan/series/grade, tenure and the type of appointment (i.e. competitive/excepted). In some cases you may need to submit more than one SF-50.

Refer to these links for more information: GENERAL INFORMATION , ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION , FORMER FEDERAL EMPLOYEES

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Click here for Evaluation details. For Displaced Employees ONLY: if you meet the eligibility requirements for special priority selection under ICTAP / CTAP , you must be well-qualified for the position to receive consideration for special priority selection. ICTAP/CTAP eligibles will be considered "well-qualified" if they attain at least a rating score of 85 in a numerical rating scheme. Be sure to review DOL Account Eligibility Questions #24 and 27 to reflect that you are applying as an ICTAP/CTAP eligible and submit supporting documentation.

All qualified applicants will be evaluated on the following key competencies:

Customer Service - Works with clients and customers to assess their needs, provide information or assistance, resolve their problems, or satisfy their expectations.

Interpersonal Skills - Shows understanding, friendliness, courtesy, tact, empathy, concern, and politeness to others.

Oral Communication - Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial).

Planning and Evaluating - Organizes work, sets priorities, and determines resource requirements; determines short- or long-term goals and strategies to achieve them; coordinates with other organizations or parts of the organization to accomplish goals; monitors progress and evaluates outcomes.

Self Management - Sets well-defined and realistic personal goals; displays a high level of initiative, effort, and commitment towards completing assignments in a timely manner; works with minimal supervision; is motivated to achieve; demonstrates responsible behavior.

Technology Application and Management- Uses machines, tools, or equipment effectively; uses computers and computer applications to analyze and communicate information in the appropriate format.

Writing - Recognizes or uses correct English grammar, punctuation, and spelling; communicates information (for example, facts, ideas, or messages) in a brief, clear, and organized manner; produces written information, which may include technical material, that is appropriate for the intended audience.

Economic Data Management and Analysis - Uses knowledge that is acquired through formal training or extensive on-the-job experience to perform one's job; works with, understands, and evaluates technical information related to the job; advises others on technical issues.

To preview questions please click here .

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Not Required

Drug test required
No

Required Documents

The following documents must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on the vacancy closing date. Warning: If you submit a document using the same document title, the 2nd submission will OVERWRITE the 1st submission. Also, do not upload password protected documents.

The following documents are required from all applicants (PLEASE READ CAREFULLY):

This position has a positive education requirement: You must submit a copy of your college transcripts. If you fail to submit your college transcripts, your application may be deemed incomplete and no further consideration will be given.

ARE YOU A CURRENT OR FORMER FEDERAL EMPLOYEE? If applying as a status candidate with current or former Federal Service, please provide a copy of your last or most recent SF-50, "Notification of Personnel Action" which shows your appointment eligibility for the position for which you are applying. Your SF-50 must identify the highest grade you held on a permanent basis, Pay Plan/Pay Schedule, Series, and Grade/Pay Band, and career status. Multiple SF-50 may be submitted to demonstrate your highest previous rate and eligibility.

*WARNING: An award SF-50 (ex. cash or time off award) may not indicate grade, step and competitive status. For current DOL employees, an award SF-50 DOES NOT indicate grade and step.

- Most recent performance appraisal/evaluation signed and dated within 18 months is requested by the agency, but will not disqualify candidates if not submitted. If not submitted during the application process, one may/will be requested at the time of the interview if the opportunity is extended. Applies to current and former Federal employees.

- Land Management Eligibles: a copy of your most recent Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50 or equivalent) proving your eligibility for appointment under the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act. This service must have been performed in the competitive service, under a time limited appointment in a Land Management Agency, as defined by P.L. 114-328. For more information, click here .

The following documents are required if applicable:

- Displaced Employee Placement Documents - Only required if requesting priority consideration under ICTAP / CTAP Eligibility.

- DD-214 - verifying military service, eligibility for consideration under the Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) and showing character of discharge (ex. Member Copy 4 and 2 are acceptable vs. Copy 1 which is not acceptable to adjudicate veteran's preference)

- Special/Non-Competitive Appointing Authority Documents - Applicants who are eligible for consideration, and wish to be considered, under one of the following non-competitive hiring authorities must submit appropriate documentation (click on the links below to see the documentation requirements):

(a) Veterans' Recruitment Appointment (VRA)
(b) Persons with Severe Disabilities (SCHEDULE A)
(c) 30% or More Compensably Disabled Veterans (DAV)
(d) Military Spouses (MISP)
(f) Other

- Cover Letters are not mandatory and will not be used to verify experience, but may be submitted

Applicants selected for employment who are not current DOL employees will be required to provide proof of citizenship , and the E-Verify system will be used to confirm the employment eligibility of all new hires.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education .

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

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