Occasional travel - Occasional travel once or twice a year may be required.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
13 - There is no obligation to provide future promotions if you are selected. Promotions are dependent on your ability to perform the duties at a higher level, meet all the performance requirements, and supervisor’s recommendation to the next grade.
The Department of Labor seeks to fill several economist positions located in the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA). EBSA is committed to protecting retirement, health, and other employee benefits, thereby advancing the retirement security and health of our nation’s workers and retirees. EBSA, through its enforcement of Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and other related health benefits laws, protects the security of retirement and health plan benefits and assets for all workers who are covered by employer-sponsored pension and welfare benefit plans.
Major duties for this position at the full performance level include, but are not limited to, the following:
Conducts economic impact analyses of major regulatory actions taken by EBSA.
Provides statistical and economic analysis to EBSA program offices relating to data analysis, enforcement targeting, participant assistance and performance measure projects.
Applies current economic theory and analysis to social protection programs, broadly defined (i.e., private employment-based health and pension benefits, and public social insurance programs);
Maintains economic research liaison with employee benefits policy/research community.
Manages portfolio of frequently utilized readily accessible public and proprietary, primary and secondary databases focused on private employment-based health and retirement benefits and public social insurance programs.
Communicates highly technical quantitative concepts and procedures focused on social protection programs and policies, broadly defined (i.e., as above) through written materials and in face-to-face briefings for senior policy officials and non-technical audiences.
At the developmental GS-11 and GS-12 levels, tasks are more restrictive and performed with the assistance and guidance of a higher-graded specialist or team lead. The incumbent will complete assignments, projects, and any other on-the-job training activities, including courses or classroom training (as assigned by the supervisor) which develop skills or knowledge needed to progress to the next higher grade level.
Promotion to the next higher grade is not guaranteed and is dependent on demonstration of 1) successful performance, 2) successful completion of training, 3) determination by the supervisor that the employee is capable of performing at the next higher grade level in the career ladder, and 4) the needs of the Agency.
Must be at least 16 years old and an U.S. Citizenship.
Appointment to this position may require a background investigation.
Requires a probationary period if the requirement has not been met.
Candidate required to obtain/maintain-Non-Sensitive Low Risk invesitgation.
This position is being filled through Direct Hire Authority. Traditional rating and ranking of applications do NOT apply. Veteran’s preference does not apply.
Notification Concerning COVID-19 Vaccinations. As required by Executive Order 14043, Federal executive branch employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 regardless of the employee's duty location or work arrangement (e.g., telework, remote work, etc.), subject to such exceptions as required by law. If selected, you will be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and to submit documentation of proof of vaccination or to be in the process of requesting an exception to the vaccination requirement before appointment or onboarding with the agency. The agency will provide additional information regarding which forms of documentation can be accepted and how you can request to be considered for a legally required exception from this requirement.
Currently, implementation and enforcement of Executive Order 14043 has been suspended pursuant to an injunction pending further litigation.
Qualifications
Basic Requirements: (You must submit a copy of your transcript(s) to verify that the Basic Requirements listed above are met). Reference the "Required Document" Section.
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.
In addition to meeting the Basic Requirements listed above, applicants must also meet the specialized experience outlined below.
Specialized Experience: Applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, in the Federal Service. Specialized Experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled.
For the GS-11 level - Applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 level. Specialized experience is defined as the use of economic theory or statistical and econometric methods (e.g., use of statistical software packages like SAS, Stata or R to conduct analysis) or experience researching various aspects relevant to private or public health and retirement benefits.
or education substitution for GS-11
3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, if related.
For the GS-12 level - Applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 level. Specialized experience is defined as using economic theory or statistical and econometric methods to analyze policy issues (e.g., economic research studies and use of statistical software packages like SAS, Stata or R to conduct analysis) or experience using primary and secondary databases. Examples of such databases include Form 5500, Form M-1, CPS, SIPP, MEPS, SCF, HRS, PSID, Morningstar, industry databases, or other large data sets used for policy analysis.
For the GS-13 level - Applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 level. Specialized experience is defined as using economic theory, statistical and econometric methods to analyze policy OR legislative and regulatory issues relating to various aspects important to private employee benefits (e.g., economic research studies and use of current statistical software packages like SAS, Stata, or R to conduct analysis) OR experience using primary and secondary databases relevant to private employment-based health and retirement benefits (e.g., Form 5500, Form M-1, CPS, SIPP, MEPS, SCF, HRS, PSID, Morningstar, or various industry databases relevant to private employee benefits).
Some topics relevant to private or public health and retirement benefits 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
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
Position Telework eligibility is determined by management based on position duties during the recruitment process. Employee participation in telework on a routine or situational basis is determined by management primarily based on business needs. Employees participating in telework are subject to the terms and conditions of the Department of Labor’s Telework Program.
Persons who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, or have speech disabilities, please dial 711 to access telecommunications relay services.
The mission of the Department of Labor (DOL) is to protect the welfare of workers and job seekers, improve working conditions, expand high quality employment opportunities, and assure work-related benefits and rights for all workers. As such, the Department is committed to fostering a workplace and workforce that promote equal employment opportunity, reflect the diversity of the people we seek to serve, and model a culture of respect, equity, inclusion, and accessibility where every employee feels heard, supported, and empowered.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT SERVES AS PUBLIC NOTICE FOR THE USE OF OPM'S DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY. ALL APPLICANTS WHO MEET THE BASIC REQUIREMENTS WILL BE FORWARDED TO THE SELECTING OFFICIAL FOR CONSIDERATION. CATEGORY RATING, VETERAN'S PREFERENCE, AND TRADITIONAL RATING AND RANKING OF APPLICANTS DO NOT APPLY TO THIS POSITION.
Evaluation Factors (Competencies) - All qualified applicants will be evaluated on the following key competencies:
Economics Technical Knowledge - Knowledge of labor, health and financial markets especially as it applies to employee benefits; Knowledge of current economic theories, methods, evidence, and economic studies.
Statistical and Quantitative Analysis – Knowledge of current economic theories and methods relating to statistics, modeling and quantitative analysis. Knowledge of data sources related to employee benefit plans and programs.
Critical Thinking/Problem Solving – Identifies and analyzes and relevancy of information; uses sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives and make recommendations. Identifies rules, principles, or relationships that explain facts, data, or other information; analyzes information and makes correct inferences or draws accurate conclusions.
Self-Management & Interpersonal Skills - Organizes work and sets realistic personal goals; displays a high level of initiative, effort and commitment towards completing assignments in a timely manner; is motivated to achieve; demonstrates responsible behavior. Demonstrates interpersonal skills that support an environment in which constructive communications take place.
The information you provide may be verified by a review of your work experience and/or education, by checking references and through other means (ex. interview). The examining Human Resources Office (HRO) makes the final determination concerning applicant ratings. Your resume MUST provide sufficient information to substantiate your responses to the vacancy questions. If not, the HRO may amend your responses to more accurately reflect the level of competency indicated by the content of your resume. Your evaluation may also include a review by a Human Resources Specialist or panel and may include other assessments (ex. interview, panel review, written test, writing sample, etc.)
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
The following documents must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on the vacancy closing date. You are not required to submit a document if it does not apply to you. 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.
- Resumes are required - provide a resume either by creating one in USAJOBS or uploading one from your profile. To receive full consideration for relevant and specialized experience, please list the month, year, and the number of work hours worked for the experience listed on your resume. We also suggest that you preview the vacancy questions and confirm that your resume supports your question responses.
- Displaced Employee Placement Documents – Only required if requesting priority consideration under CTAP or ICTAP eligibility.
- 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.
Unofficial Transcript(s) (in English) - If you are using education as a basis for qualifying for this position, you must submit all applicable academic transcripts demonstrating that you meet the qualifying educational requirements (ex. BA/BS, MA, JD, Ph.D., etc.). If specific coursework is required to qualify, you must supply an unofficial transcript from each academic institution in which the required courses were taken in order to receive credit. You may upload your unofficial transcript(s) as one document with a maximum size limit of 5 MB.
NOTE: The OFFICIAL Transcript(s) MUST BE RECEIVED, if you are selected, and prior to receiving the firm offer with a start date.
Reference the “Education Section” for College Transcript and Evaluation of Foreign Education.
Effective December 17, 2022, applicants will no longer have the ability to submit supporting documents via FAX. Applicants will continue to submit supporting documents with the more commonly used methods below:
Transfer from USAJobs
Upload directly from a computer
Submit a picture from a mobile device
If you are unable to use any of the methods listed above, please reach out to the HR Specialist shown in the contact information section of the vacancy.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
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.
To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, including submission of the required documentation specified in the "Required Documents" section.
Follow the steps below to apply. Your application and ALL required supplemental documents MUST be received by 11:59 pm Eastern Time (ET) on the vacancy closing date to receive consideration. Paper applications and supplemental documents submitted in any other manner without prior approval from the vacancy contact will not be considered. Click here for information on Reasonable Accommodations.
SAVE your information before the 30 MINUTE TIMEOUT! For help, go to USAJOBS Help Center.
STEP 1 - Create USAJOBS Account on www.usajobs.gov, including Resume and Saved Documents Your resume must provide sufficient information to substantiate your responses to the self-assessment vacancy questions. If not, HR may amend your responses to more accurately reflect the competency indicated by resume content. FOR EACH EMPLOYMENT PERIOD, include: start/end month & year and note full-time or part-time (if part-time, include # of hours worked per week); otherwise, your application may be considered incomplete.
STEP 2 - Complete the 1st part of the application process (USAJOBS) Once you have identified a job on USAJOBS that you wish to apply for, click on the title and click the "Apply" button. For questions about the vacancy, contact the Agency Contact at the bottom of the announcement. Click “Start Application” and proceed through the 5 steps noted at the top of the USAJOBS page. You will be able to select a resume and documents from your USAJOBS Account that you can submit as a package as part of your DOL application. At Step 5, click “Continue to Agency Site”.
STEP 3 – Complete the 2nd part of the application process (DOL) On the Department of Labor (DOL) page, create a DOL Account if you have not already and click “APPLY TO THIS VACANCY”. Continue through the 7 progress steps indicated by circles at the top of the DOL page. The 3rd progress step is where you answer the vacancy specific questions. The 4th progress step "Documents" is where you submit required documents (only if applicable to you) specified in the "Required Documents" section of this vacancy. If you submit a document using the same document title, the 2nd submission will OVERWRITE the 1st submission.
STEP 4 – On the “Review and Submit” step, click “Submit Application” The last “Confirmation” step will turn green noting that your application was submitted successfully.
STEP 5 - Edit Application as needed by 11:59 pm ET of Closing Date by returning to USAJOBS, clicking the vacancy, then “Update Application”.
Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration
Chicago Service Center
Chicago, Illinois 60604
United States
Next steps
Once your complete application is received, we will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications and refer candidates for selection consideration. Candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interview. You will be notified of the outcome. A selection is expected to be made within 30 calendar days from the issuance date of the certificate.
For instructions on how to check the status of your application, go to: USAJOBS Help Guide.
USAJOBS will no longer send status alert email notifications. You can check your application status in the TAS by logging into USAJOBS and in the Applicant Dashboard, click the hiring agency Talent Acquisition System (TAS). If the TAS does not provide application tracking information, contact the agency point of contact on the job announcement.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
The following documents must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on the vacancy closing date. You are not required to submit a document if it does not apply to you. 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.
- Resumes are required - provide a resume either by creating one in USAJOBS or uploading one from your profile. To receive full consideration for relevant and specialized experience, please list the month, year, and the number of work hours worked for the experience listed on your resume. We also suggest that you preview the vacancy questions and confirm that your resume supports your question responses.
- Displaced Employee Placement Documents – Only required if requesting priority consideration under CTAP or ICTAP eligibility.
- 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.
Unofficial Transcript(s) (in English) - If you are using education as a basis for qualifying for this position, you must submit all applicable academic transcripts demonstrating that you meet the qualifying educational requirements (ex. BA/BS, MA, JD, Ph.D., etc.). If specific coursework is required to qualify, you must supply an unofficial transcript from each academic institution in which the required courses were taken in order to receive credit. You may upload your unofficial transcript(s) as one document with a maximum size limit of 5 MB.
NOTE: The OFFICIAL Transcript(s) MUST BE RECEIVED, if you are selected, and prior to receiving the firm offer with a start date.
Reference the “Education Section” for College Transcript and Evaluation of Foreign Education.
Effective December 17, 2022, applicants will no longer have the ability to submit supporting documents via FAX. Applicants will continue to submit supporting documents with the more commonly used methods below:
Transfer from USAJobs
Upload directly from a computer
Submit a picture from a mobile device
If you are unable to use any of the methods listed above, please reach out to the HR Specialist shown in the contact information section of the vacancy.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
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.
To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, including submission of the required documentation specified in the "Required Documents" section.
Follow the steps below to apply. Your application and ALL required supplemental documents MUST be received by 11:59 pm Eastern Time (ET) on the vacancy closing date to receive consideration. Paper applications and supplemental documents submitted in any other manner without prior approval from the vacancy contact will not be considered. Click here for information on Reasonable Accommodations.
SAVE your information before the 30 MINUTE TIMEOUT! For help, go to USAJOBS Help Center.
STEP 1 - Create USAJOBS Account on www.usajobs.gov, including Resume and Saved Documents Your resume must provide sufficient information to substantiate your responses to the self-assessment vacancy questions. If not, HR may amend your responses to more accurately reflect the competency indicated by resume content. FOR EACH EMPLOYMENT PERIOD, include: start/end month & year and note full-time or part-time (if part-time, include # of hours worked per week); otherwise, your application may be considered incomplete.
STEP 2 - Complete the 1st part of the application process (USAJOBS) Once you have identified a job on USAJOBS that you wish to apply for, click on the title and click the "Apply" button. For questions about the vacancy, contact the Agency Contact at the bottom of the announcement. Click “Start Application” and proceed through the 5 steps noted at the top of the USAJOBS page. You will be able to select a resume and documents from your USAJOBS Account that you can submit as a package as part of your DOL application. At Step 5, click “Continue to Agency Site”.
STEP 3 – Complete the 2nd part of the application process (DOL) On the Department of Labor (DOL) page, create a DOL Account if you have not already and click “APPLY TO THIS VACANCY”. Continue through the 7 progress steps indicated by circles at the top of the DOL page. The 3rd progress step is where you answer the vacancy specific questions. The 4th progress step "Documents" is where you submit required documents (only if applicable to you) specified in the "Required Documents" section of this vacancy. If you submit a document using the same document title, the 2nd submission will OVERWRITE the 1st submission.
STEP 4 – On the “Review and Submit” step, click “Submit Application” The last “Confirmation” step will turn green noting that your application was submitted successfully.
STEP 5 - Edit Application as needed by 11:59 pm ET of Closing Date by returning to USAJOBS, clicking the vacancy, then “Update Application”.
Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration
Chicago Service Center
Chicago, Illinois 60604
United States
Next steps
Once your complete application is received, we will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications and refer candidates for selection consideration. Candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interview. You will be notified of the outcome. A selection is expected to be made within 30 calendar days from the issuance date of the certificate.
For instructions on how to check the status of your application, go to: USAJOBS Help Guide.
USAJOBS will no longer send status alert email notifications. You can check your application status in the TAS by logging into USAJOBS and in the Applicant Dashboard, click the hiring agency Talent Acquisition System (TAS). If the TAS does not provide application tracking information, contact the agency point of contact on the job announcement.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
