The Bureau of Labor Statistics measures labor market activity, working conditions, price changes, and productivity in the U.S. economy to support public and private decision making.
The position is located in the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Office of Employment and Unemployment Statistics.
This position is inside the bargaining unit.
Summary
The Bureau of Labor Statistics measures labor market activity, working conditions, price changes, and productivity in the U.S. economy to support public and private decision making.
The position is located in the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Office of Employment and Unemployment Statistics.
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
14 - 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 performance requirements, and the supervisor's recommendation to the next grade.
This position is being filled through Direct Hire Authority. Traditional rating and ranking of applications does NOT apply. Veteran's preference does not apply.
The BLS headquarters is currently located in Washington, D.C. but is in the process of relocating within the National Capital Area to the Suitland Federal Center in Suitland, Maryland. If selected for this position, your assigned duty station will be Washington, D.C with the option to telework from an approved telework site within the locality pay area of Washington, D.C./Baltimore/Arlington while the future headquarters is being built. Upon completion of the new headquarters offices in Suitland, MD, you will be required to report onsite to the Suitland Federal Center for some portion of each pay period after receiving notification to do so.
The duties described are for the GS-14 level. At developmental grade levels, assignments will be of more limited scope and performed with less independence and complexity. Duties include, but are not limited to the following:
Initiates and conducts research activities applying economic, econometric, and statistical principles and concepts, to improve the quality, technical currency, and analytical usefulness of OEUS programs
Directs and/or participates in major research projects on important and difficult economic problems that involve complex theoretical and empirical issues and requires innovative and original efforts at the highest level of sophistication
Identifies problems in the existing measurement of economic variables important to labor market analysis
Provides advice and guidance to staff on the application of sound economic principles and the use of effective econometric and quantitative methods to ensure that correct and best methods are employed
Represents the OEUS as a technical expert on research and program development activities to other organizations within BLS, other agencies, research institutions, and the general public.
Candidate required to obtain the necessary security/investigation level.
Requires a probationary period if the requirement has not been met.
Qualifications
BASIC REQUIREMENT Economist, 0110: 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.
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE
For the qualifications statements below, please note the following for each grade level:
Economic research that applied existing economic methods in an innovative manner must be highly creative research that expands our understanding of an economic theory, evaluates a public policy, or enhances our understanding of the response of economic units (people or businesses) to economic influences.
Areas of methodological research may include, but are not limited to: point estimations, ordinary least squares regression analysis, maximum likelihood methods, limited dependent variable and discrete choice modeling, natural economic experiments, simultaneous equations analysis, instrumental variable techniques, time series analysis, generalized linear regression modeling, non-parametric regression using kernel methods or smoothing, statistical computing, panel data and longitudinal data techniques, or simulation techniques to evaluate the performance of statistical estimation and inference methods.
Contributions to the dissemination or communication of empirical economic research findings should be readily apparent on a resume or CV, such as appearing in a separate section of the document. If a contribution is a co-authored piece, the primary/lead author should be highlighted on the resume or CV, such as having the primary/lead author's name bolded or indicated in a parenthetical next to the listing.
IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE IN YOUR RESUME, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.
GS-12: In addition to the basic requirements above, applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 grade level in the federal service. The specialized experience requirements for the GS-12 level of this position must be in economics or a closely related field to economics or statistics and must have equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position to be filled. The specialized experience requirements for the GS-12 level of this position are:
Conducting methodological or innovative economic research under supervision or as part of a team or project that included oversight from a supervisor or other higher-level reviewer. The research should have contributed to the development of improved or new empirical economic methods, theories, or techniques in any area of economics or statistics, or have applied existing economic methods in an innovative manner; AND
Contributing to the dissemination or communication of empirical economic research findings in the form of preparing or publishing manuscripts, reports, peer-reviewed journal articles, writing and completing a thesis, writing and completing a chapter of a dissertation, or presenting this information at economic, scientific, or technical seminars within a graduate institution.
OR
Education Substitution: Ph.D or equivalent doctoral degree. Completion of graduate level education is qualifying if it provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.
GS-13: In addition to the basic requirements above, applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 grade level in the federal service. The specialized experience requirements for the GS-13 level of this position must be in economics or a closely related field to economics or statistics and must have equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position to be filled. The specialized experience requirements for the GS-13 level of this position are:
Conducting methodological or innovative economic research independently or as part of a research team or project with minimal to no oversight. The research should have contributed to the development of improved or new empirical economic methods, theories, or techniques in any area of economics or statistics, or have applied existing economic methods in an innovative manner; AND
Contributing to the dissemination or communication of empirical economic research findings as a sole or lead author in the form of preparing or publishing manuscripts, reports, peer-reviewed journal articles, or presenting this information at economic, scientific, or technical conferences or professional meetings.
GS-14: In addition to the basic requirements above, applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-13 grade level in the federal service. The specialized experience requirements for the GS-14 level of this position must be in economics or a closely related field to economics or statistics and must have equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position to be filled. The specialized experience requirements for the GS-14 level of this position are:
Conducting methodological or innovative economic research independently or as part of a research team or project with minimal to no oversight. The research should have contributed to the development of improved or new empirical economic methods, theories, or techniques in any area of economics or statistics, or have applied existing economic methods in an innovative manner; AND
Contributing to the dissemination or communication of empirical economic research findings as a sole or lead author in the form of preparing or publishing manuscripts, reports, peer-reviewed journal articles, or presenting this information at economic, scientific, or technical conferences or professional meetings; AND
Leading research teams or projects or teaching as a sole instructor and mentoring graduate students in economics, statistics, or a related field.
Education
To use your education as a basis for meeting the Basic Qualification Requirements (BQR) for this position, you must submit academic transcripts demonstrating that you meet the qualifying educational requirements. If specific course work is required to fulfill the BQR, you must supply transcripts from each academic institution in which the required courses were taken to receive credit for that course work. See the "Qualifications and Evaluations" section of this announcement for more details.
If you do not submit sufficient academic documentation demonstrating that you meet the eligibility and BQR for this position, your application will be deemed incomplete.
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
This position is being filled through the Direct Hire Authority. Traditional rating and ranking of applications do NOT apply. The Veteran's preference does not apply.
This position is inside the bargaining unit. The duty location is within the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, and the position will be included in the Local 12, AFGE bargaining unit.
Persons who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, or have speech disabilities, please dial 711 to access telecommunications relay services.
DOL seeks to attract and retain a high-performing and diverse workforce in which employee 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 can participate and contribute to their full potential.
As a condition of employment, all personnel must undergo a background investigation for access to DOL facilities, systems, information and/or classified materials before they can enter on duty: BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION
Telework Position: 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.
Based on agency needs, additional positions may be filled using this vacancy.
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.
Under the authority of direct hire recruitment, evaluation factors are a tool to gauge one's proficiency in relevant competencies, but will not be used to determine who will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration. All candidates who have provided a complete application, and meet the minimum qualification requirements will be referred for consideration. Please review evaluations details here.
The information you provide may be verified by a review of your paid, unpaid, volunteer, and other lived experience, as it demonstrates the competencies or skills required for the position to be filled. Your evaluation may include an interview, reference checks, or other assessment conducted by HR specialists, subject matter experts, or panel members and may include other assessment tools (ex. interview, structured interview, written test, work sample, etc.). The examining Office of Human Resources (OHR) makes the final determination concerning applicant ratings.
INFORMATION FOR ICTAP/CTAP ELIGIBLE(S) ONLY: If you are eligible for special priority selection under ICTAP/CTAP, you must be well-qualified for the position to receive consideration. ICTAP/CTAP eligible(s) will be considered well-qualified if they attain at least a rating score of 85 in a numerical rating scheme. Be sure to review the eligibility questions to reflect that you are applying as an ICTAP or CTAP eligible and submit supporting documentation.
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.
Resumes: 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 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.
Veterans Documents (if applicable): To be considered as a 5-point preference eligible, you must submit a copy of your Certificate of Release or Discharge From Active Duty, DD214. Your DD-214 must show the type of discharge and dates of active duty. To claim 10-point preference, you must submit a copy of your DD214; an Application for 10-point Veteran's Preference, SF15; and the proof of entitlement of this preference, which is normally an official statement, dated 1991 or later, from the Department of Veterans Affairs certifying to the present existence of the service-connected disability and indicating the percentage of your disability. (For active-duty service members expecting honorable or general discharge or release within 120 days, click Active Duty). Without this documentation, you will not receive veteran's preference. For more information, go to Feds Hire Vets - Veterans Preference
Displaced Employee Placement Documents - Only required if requesting priority consideration under CTAP or ICTAP eligibility.
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.
Cover Letters are not mandatory and will not be used to verify experience but may be submitted.
Reference the Education Section for College Transcript and Evaluation of Foreign Education.
Do not upload password-protected documents.
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:
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.
Your application and ALL required supplemental documents MUST be received by 11:59 pm Eastern Time 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.
Important - Save your information before the 30 minute system 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 job title and then click the Apply button. For questions about the vacancy, contact the Agency Contact at the bottom of the announcement. Proceed through the 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. In the final step, once you have certified your application, click the Continue to agency site button.
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 progress steps at the top of the DOL page. The 2nd progress step is where you answer the vacancy-specific questions. The 3rd progress step Documents is where you submit the required documents (only if applicable to you) specified in the Required Documents section of this vacancy.
STEP 4 - On the Review and Submit step, verify each section of your application is complete and correct. In order to submit your application, you must have a check mark next to each section listed. If there is an X, return to the appropriate section and follow the prompts. When it is ready for submission, certify your application and click the Submit Application button.
STEP 5 - Edit Application as needed by 11:59 pm Eastern Time of Closing Date by returning to USAJOBS, clicking the vacancy, thenUpdate Application.
NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.
Bureau of Labor Statistics
200 Constitution Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20210
US
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 interviews. You will be notified of the outcome. A selection is expected to be made within 30 calendar days of 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's point of contact on the job announcement.
To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link, and then select the more information link for this position. The Application page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.
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.
Resumes: 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 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.
Veterans Documents (if applicable): To be considered as a 5-point preference eligible, you must submit a copy of your Certificate of Release or Discharge From Active Duty, DD214. Your DD-214 must show the type of discharge and dates of active duty. To claim 10-point preference, you must submit a copy of your DD214; an Application for 10-point Veteran's Preference, SF15; and the proof of entitlement of this preference, which is normally an official statement, dated 1991 or later, from the Department of Veterans Affairs certifying to the present existence of the service-connected disability and indicating the percentage of your disability. (For active-duty service members expecting honorable or general discharge or release within 120 days, click Active Duty). Without this documentation, you will not receive veteran's preference. For more information, go to Feds Hire Vets - Veterans Preference
Displaced Employee Placement Documents - Only required if requesting priority consideration under CTAP or ICTAP eligibility.
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.
Cover Letters are not mandatory and will not be used to verify experience but may be submitted.
Reference the Education Section for College Transcript and Evaluation of Foreign Education.
Do not upload password-protected documents.
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:
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.
Your application and ALL required supplemental documents MUST be received by 11:59 pm Eastern Time 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.
Important - Save your information before the 30 minute system 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 job title and then click the Apply button. For questions about the vacancy, contact the Agency Contact at the bottom of the announcement. Proceed through the 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. In the final step, once you have certified your application, click the Continue to agency site button.
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 progress steps at the top of the DOL page. The 2nd progress step is where you answer the vacancy-specific questions. The 3rd progress step Documents is where you submit the required documents (only if applicable to you) specified in the Required Documents section of this vacancy.
STEP 4 - On the Review and Submit step, verify each section of your application is complete and correct. In order to submit your application, you must have a check mark next to each section listed. If there is an X, return to the appropriate section and follow the prompts. When it is ready for submission, certify your application and click the Submit Application button.
STEP 5 - Edit Application as needed by 11:59 pm Eastern Time of Closing Date by returning to USAJOBS, clicking the vacancy, thenUpdate Application.
NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.
Bureau of Labor Statistics
200 Constitution Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20210
US
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 interviews. You will be notified of the outcome. A selection is expected to be made within 30 calendar days of 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's point of contact on the job announcement.
To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link, and then select the more information link for this position. The Application page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
