Join the Government Economic Service: Assistant Economists
The Government Economic Service is at the heart of
everything government does with high quality economic analysis essential to
decision making in everything from negotiating new trade deals to building HS2,
from supporting regional growth to managing the UK’s debt.
To help us deliver rigorous and impactful analysis we are
looking for over 40 economists to join us and influence the day-to-day lives of
every person in the UK.
As an assistant economist you will be joining a community of
over 1,500 economists spread across more than 30 organisations, putting your
economic learning to direct use by influencing high profile public policies
with the best possible economic analysis. This is an exciting time to be
joining the civil service, and with support and mentoring you’ll prepare vital
briefings for ministers or the public, provide advice on policy options, and
ensure the quality and appropriate use of economic statistics.
We take your development seriously and while earning a
competitive salary, there will be plenty of support to further your development
as an economist. You will broaden your subject knowledge through 50 hours of
continuous professional development a year and a further 50 hours on personal
skills. The GES offers plenty of courses and high-quality training to help you do
so where some of the competences you could develop include:
•
Strong quantitative skills: you’ll become an
expert in manipulating and presenting data
•
Writing and presentation techniques:
communicating economics clearly and succinctly to senior officials and
ministers
•
Applied economics skills: using economic
insights and techniques to inform policy on anything from the environment to
transport.
Where you could work
Working across government, you could land a post in a number
of departments and agencies around the UK, including:
·
Department for Business, Energy & Industrial
Strategy
·
Department for Environment Food & Rural
Affairs
·
Department for International Development
·
Department of Health
·
Forestry Commission (Scotland)
·
Home Office
·
HM Treasury
·
National Health Service England (via DH)
·
Scottish Government
Eligibility
Applicants will need to possess or expected to have a first
or upper second class honours degree with at least 50% of the modules in
economics, or have a masters in economics.
Modules must have covered both micro
and macroeconomics to qualify and if you graduated more than five years ago
then you must have examples of how you have maintained your economic knowledge
on the competency section of the application form.
Contract Terms and
Applications
The current posts on offer are provisional and are being
offered on a 2-year fixed term contract – but you can expect support in
becoming a permanent member of the service by passing the Fast Stream
Assessment Centre. Contracts are open to accommodate working pattern needs and
can be on a full or part-time basis.
All civil servants are appointed on merit through fair and
open competition. The selection process will consider your attitude,
capability, talent and willingness to learn. If appointed you will be expected
to carry out your role with dedication and a commitment to the Civil Service
and its core values of integrity, honesty, objectivity and impartiality.
For further details on eligibility please read the application
process and guidance notes above.
