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Job description

Overview

Are you interested in helping shape government policy by producing high quality analysis?

Do you want to develop a career developing technical expertise essential to decision making?

We are recruiting over 200 economists to join us to help us deliver analysis and influence the day-to-day lives of every person in the UK.

Join us as an Assistant Economist!

The Government Economic Service is at the heart of everything government does. High quality economic analysis is essential to decision-making in everything from negotiating new trade deals to building HS2, from supporting regional growth to managing the UK’s debt.

Job summary

This is a recruitment scheme for economics graduates which sits beside the Economics Fast Stream as a main route into a role as an Assistant Economist in the Government Economic Service. To help us deliver analysis we are looking for over 200 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 3,500 economists 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 continuous support 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.

Developing your skills

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 continuous professional development on technical and 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 working with 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.

Key facts

Locations: Birmingham, Brighton and Hove, Bristol, Cardiff, Darlington, East Kilbride, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Ipswich, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Nottingham, Sheffield, Stafford, Swindon, York

Number of roles: 245

Start date: September 2023

Scheme duration: Permeant role

Minimum – Maximum Salary: £27,000 - £40,911

Entry Requirements

Applicants will need to possess or will be expected to have at least an upper second-class honours degree.

Please review the essential criteria below:

· Hold an Economics degree by August 2023.

· If you completed a joint degree, at least 50% of the modules must be economics, or you must have a MSc in economics.

· Modules must have covered both micro and macroeconomics to qualify.

· If you graduated more than five years ago then you must have examples of how you have maintained your economic knowledge on the personal statement section of the application form.

Nationality requirements

· This job is broadly open to the following groups:

· UK nationals

· nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK

· nationals of the Republic of Ireland

· nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)

· relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service

· relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service

· certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals

Further information can be found on the civil service website.

Immigration requirements

Please note that it is possible to meet the nationality requirements and still not be legally entitled to work in the UK.

Individuals will need to demonstrate their eligibility under the Civil Service Nationality Rules (CSNRs). Nationality requirements are explained in more detail on the Civil Service nationality rules webpage.

Candidates must have the right to work in the UK, as we do not offer sponsorship.

Further information can be found on the civil service website.

Application Process

Stage 1: Register on Civil Service Jobs

· To begin your application, please register your interest on the Civil Service Job website

Stage 2: Complete a short application form

Stage 3: Online tests

· There are two online tests to complete: verbal and numerical. Only once you have passed one test, can you move on to the next.

· There may be a delay between completing your tests and progressing to the next stage.

· You will need to have access to a laptop/desk computer

Stage 4: Application form

· If you meet the minimum standard of online tests, you will be invited to fill out a full application form including your degree modules.

Stage 5: Minimum pass mark set (This is a process carried out by administrative staff)

· If you meet the minimum standard of online tests, you will be invited to fill out a full application form including your degree modules.

·

Stage 6: Sift (This is a process carried out by administrative staff)

· If you are successful at both tests, you will then be sifted on your economics qualifications, including the full description of your modules. Please sure these are fully described otherwise we will not be able to move forward with your application.

Stage 5: Economics Assessment Centre (EAC)

· Those passing the sift, will be taken forward to an assessment day.

· At the Assessment Centre, candidates’ knowledge of economics will be tested along with strength and behaviour competences.

· Further information and guidance on strengths and behaviours can be found on the civil service website.

· You will be assessed against four strength competencies and three behaviour competencies throughout the EAC:

Behaviours

· Making Effective Decisions

· Delivering at Pace

· Working together

Strength

· Adaptable

· Analytical

· Networker

· Team Player

You must pass all six competencies to be successful for this scheme. If you are invited to interview you will be provided with extra guidance for Economic Assessment Centre on the Civil Service Jobsite.

Further information and guidance on strengths and behaviours can be found on the civil service website.

Further guidance on testing can be found in the candidate pack on the civil service website.

Economic Assessment Centre (EAC)

The Economic Assessment Centre (EAC) is a half-day Assessment Centre to assess a candidate’s economics skills against set criteria.

For more information see the Economic Assessment Centre Guide

Recruitment Timeline:

Please note that this timeline may be subject to change.

1. 23rd January 2023 - Registration opens and online tests begin.

2. 13th February 2023 at 23:55 - scheme closes (all tests and application form (Stages 1-4) must be completed by this date)

3. w/c 13th February 2023 – the recruitment team will set the pass mark for the online tests and successful candidates will be progressed to sift.

4. 20th February to 3rd March 2023 – applications are sifted to decide who will be invited to the Economics Assessment Centre.

5. 6th March to 17th March 2023 – Candidates informed of outcomes.

6. 20th March 2023 to 5th May 2023 – Economics Assessment Centre

7. 8th May 2023 to 26th May 2023 – Successful candidates notified of outcome and assigned to a government department.

8. For further information on the selection process, please see the Candidate Pack.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend the Economics Assessment Centre. Due to a large volume of applications, we are unable to provide feedback on individual applications.

The Government Economic Service (GES)

The Government Economic Service is the professional body for economists in the UK civil service. Since its foundation in 1964, GES economists have been involved in decision making across government. For government, economics is about decision-making based on analysis and evidence, in order to make meaningful change to the lives of UK citizens.

The Civil Service helps keep the UK prosperous and secure, supporting the government in implementing their commitments and delivering high-quality services for the public.

There are over 470,000 civil servants from across the UK. Our core values are integrity, honesty, impartiality and objectivity, and we are committed to recruiting people from a range of different backgrounds.

Consider applying if you wish to make a meaningful change to the lives of UK citizens and work alongside other change-makers across the country.

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

At the GES we welcome applications from anyone with the necessary qualifications, regardless of sex, marital status, race, colour, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, or, in Northern Ireland, community background. There are no age limits.

Join an inclusive and diverse working environment that is both friendly and supportive.

We actively support those with additional requirements during the selection process and in the workplace.

We always encourage those in the GES to feel comfortable to come to work as themselves. The Civil Service offer comprehensive wellbeing support as well the opportunity to join many diversity networks and support groups.

As a Disability Confident Employer, the Civil Service is committed to providing an environment that is inclusive for all.

The Civil Service is committed to…

· Challenging the attitudes towards disability

· Increasing understanding of disability

· Removing barriers to disabled people and with those with long-term health conditions

· Ensuring disabled people have their opportunity to fulfil their potential

Job Type: Full-time

Salary: £27,000.00-£40,911.00 per year

Benefits:

• Company pension
• Cycle to work scheme
• Wellness programme

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Work Location: Hybrid remote in London

Application deadline: 13/02/2023
Reference ID: Civil Service Job Ref: 263213
Expected start date: 01/09/2023