Labor Market Economist II
The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD) manages the Commonwealth’s workforce development and labor departments to ensure that workers, employers, and the unemployed have the tools and training needed to succeed in the Massachusetts economy. EOLWD oversees the Departments of Economic Research, Unemployment Assistance, Career Services, Labor Standards, Industrial Accidents, Labor Relations, Family and Medical Leave, as well as the Division of Apprentice Standards, Council on the Underground Economy, and the quasi-public-private Commonwealth Corporation. EOLWD and its agencies are committed to developing a world-class, highly skilled labor force to support business growth and innovation in the Commonwealth.
The Department of Economic Research (DER) generates and distributes statistics and applied research related to Massachusetts employment wages and salaries, businesses and employees, industry sectors, as well as occupational trends and future employment forecasts. The DER team also promotes the use of Massachusetts labor market information on such topics as the role and impact of emerging technologies, changes in the structure of the workplace, and the cost of living relative to the availability of employment opportunities in geographic areas. Information related to employment standards and qualifications, education and training, and career options are vital for informed policymaking in Massachusetts relative to the state of the workforce. The Department of Economic Research is currently expanding its research and analytics capabilities due to the increased demands for real-time data insights into the state of the Commonwealth’s economy.
The Department of Economic Research is seeking a Labor Market Economist II to assist in the operations of the Labor Market Information and Unemployment Insurance programs by collecting, compiling, computing and analyzing monthly data at the state and sub-state level. Maintain and update the Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) Program to Measure Insured Unemployment Statistics (PROMIS) system. Duties will include computing statistics from various program activities; reviewing data for accuracy; compiling information in required formats; preparing charts, graphs, and other documents to meet program requirements to include the UI Trust Fund. Maintain UI program data and performance measures by updating monthly ETA reports in Excel spreadsheet and performing related duties as required.
The Labor Market Economist II will be a critical position within the Department of Economic Research team whose mission is to provide agile and accurate workforce forecasts so that provide policy makers in state government as well as workforce can succeed in providing workers and employers with the data they need to succeed. This position will be particularly important to enabling that mission as it will manage how stakeholders can use industry projections to implement targeted re-employment programs that will allow workers to reintegrate into a post-pandemic economy. The ability to work in a predominantly remote, though highly collaborative environment, is essential. As this position will deal with the production of some of the most useful demographic data tools in Massachusetts, an understanding of socioeconomic factors and the intellectual curiosity to bring key insights about rising inequality in the Commonwealth will be prioritized. This position may require a high amount of interactivity with staff from other secretariats requiring economic data insights, especially the staffs of the Governor’s Workforce Skills Cabinet which includes the secretariats of Education and Housing and Economic Development as well as the Administration and Finance secretariat, a super user of Economic Research managed data. The role will also at times partner with staff from the Department of Career Services in order to provide regional economic insights to help with re-employment.
Duties Include:
Gathering and compiling data from various sources to prepare, update and maintain current labor market and economic data and information.
Analyzing economic and related statistical data using historical trend analysis, moving averages and miscellaneous statistical methods to identify changes.
Reviewing and computing statistics required for input to federal and state programs on employment, wages, unemployment, claims and payments.
Reviewing computed data for accuracy and completeness.
Developing and preparing statistical charts and graphs, narratives and statistical summary information on labor market and economic data for presentations in comparative reports and for publication. Preparing data for website publication
Performing other duties as required.
SALARY PLACEMENT IS DETERMINED BY YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE POSITION AND THE HUMAN RESOURCES DIVISION’S RECRUITING GUIDELINES. IN THE CASE OF A PROMOTIONAL OPPORTUNITY, THE SALARY PROVISIONS OF THE APPLICABLE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT WILL BE UTILIZED FOR PLACEMENT WITHIN THE SALARY RANGE.
Qualifications
First consideration will be given to those applicants that apply within the first 14 days.
Minimum Entrance Requirements:
Applicants must have at least (A) three years of full-time, or equivalent part-time, professional or paraprofessional experience in economics, economic research, statistics or statistical research, and (B) of which at least one year must have been in a professional capacity, or (C) any equivalent combination of the required experience and the substitutions below:
Substitutions:
I. A Bachelor’s degree with a major in economics, statistics or mathematics may be substituted for a maximum of two years of the required (A) experience.*
II. A Graduate degree with a major in economics, statistics or mathematics may be substituted for the required experience.*
III. A Bachelor’s or higher degree with a major other than in economics, statistics or mathematics may be substituted for a maximum of one year of the required (A) experience.*
*Education toward such a degree will be prorated on the basis of the proportion of the requirements actually completed.
Special Requirements: None
An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer. Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.
Official Title: Labor Market Economist II
Primary Location: United States-Massachusetts-Boston-19 Staniford Street
Job: Economics
Agency: Department of Workforce Development
Schedule: Full-time
Shift: Day
Job Posting: Mar 11, 2022, 10:32:11 AM
Number of Openings: 1
Salary: 55,469.70 – 79,070.16 Yearly
If you have Diversity, Affirmative Action or Equal Employment Opportunity questions or need a Reasonable Accommodation, please contact Diversity Officer / ADA Coordinator: Dennis Johnson – 6176265111
Bargaining Unit: 06-NAGE – Professional Admin.
Confidential: Yes