Economist

Public Sector Resourcing; City Of London; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A government department in the UK seeks an Economist to conduct econometric analysis, focusing on the link between business data usage and productivity. This role involves validating models, synthesizing findings for policy teams, and utilizing statistical software. The ideal candidate will have a strong economics background, experience with regression analysis, and be proficient in Stata, R, and Python.

Benefits

Opportunities for career progression

Engaging work environment

Disability Confident Scheme participation

Qualifications

• Proven experience with fixed-effects time-series regression techniques.
• Ability to condense complex analytical ideas for policy interpretation.
• Knowledge of econometric regression analysis benefits and limitations.

Responsibilities

• Perform econometric analysis and conduct regression to examine data productivity relation.
• Review and validate econometric models for robustness.
• Prepare reports and summaries for stakeholders, ensuring clarity.

Skills

Econometrics

Regression modelling

Statistical analysis

Causal inference

Education

Strong background in Economics

Experience in macroeconomics

Tools

Stata

R

Python

Job description

Responsibilities for DSIT

• Positioning the UK at the forefront of global scientific and technological advancement.
• Driving innovations that change lives and sustain economic growth.
• Delivering talent programmes, physical and digital infrastructure, and regulation to support our economy, security, and public services.
• R&D funding.

DSIT offers stimulating, challenging, and engaging work that makes a difference and that has a direct impact on the quality of people's lives, as well as the opportunity to progress your career.

About the role

The data policy analysis team is a multi-disciplinary analytical team providing cutting‑edge research and analytical support to the digital and data policy directorate in key areas of data policy. One major cross‑cutting project is our landmark business data use and productivity study (available here), which is drawing together insights from macro and micro‑economic modelling, and utilising longitudinal survey panel data to explore the links between data use within businesses and their productivity. This work is currently feeding into the Government's top priority – boosting growth and productivity – and is feeding into discussions and decisions across Whitehall. We are seeking an economist to help deliver the micro‑economic analysis of our wave 2 survey panel data. For someone with the right expertise there may be some flexibility in dates offered and work pattern on the project.

The economist will work, with the support of our grade 7 project lead and grade 6 team lead, to analyse and deliver insights from the second wave of our longitudinal panel survey. The analysis will require an understanding of fixed‑effects time‑series (and partially cross‑sectional) regression and its application to productivity studies. The economist will be required to critique the validity of the model itself, alongside the quality of the data input, testing for robustness of any insights derived from the model.

The economist will work alongside other SEO analysts to ensure the delivery of the analysis, including critiquing the model and helping the team utilise the most cutting‑edge and appropriate analysis. The exact balance of work will depend on the expertise brought by the economist to the team. We envisage they will lead on critique and development of the model, supporting its development and research of the economic and policy consequences of the model.

The current formulation of the model follows established econometric approaches to measure productivity, mirroring our previous macroeconomic work. We take a sectoral approach and establish a productive frontier of businesses that lead the way both in productivity gains and in knowledge diffusion to the wider economy. This is a first step for us to examine productivity diffusion channels (growth decomposition), such as examining the extent of creative destruction required to maximise productivity gains seen from data use within businesses.

The main duties and responsibilities of the Economist would be to

• Conduct Econometric Analysis: Perform fixed‑effects time‑series and panel data regression analysis to examine relationships between business data use and productivity.
• Review, refine, and validate econometric models, ensuring robustness and alignment with economic theory. Identify limitations and propose improvements.
• Evaluate the quality and reliability of longitudinal survey panel data, checking for inconsistencies and ensuring accurate inputs for analysis.
• Translate complex econometric findings into clear, actionable insights for policy teams, highlighting implications for productivity and growth.
• Macroeconomic Contextual Analysis: Incorporate macroeconomic trends and sectoral productivity patterns into the interpretation of results, ensuring alignment with broader economic growth objectives.
• Work closely with other analysts and project leads to deliver high‑quality outputs, share expertise, and ensure methodological rigor.
• Prepare accessible reports and summaries for internal stakeholders and potentially for GOV.UK publication, making technical results understandable for non‑specialists.
• Use statistical software (Stata, R, Python) to run models, automate processes, and manage large datasets efficiently.

Essential Requirements

• Strong background in Economics with previous experience in macroeconomics.
• Economic theory fluency: Ability to align empirical modelling with theoretical frameworks.
• Regression modelling and analysis. Experience with panel data econometrics, causal inference, and time‑series modelling. (fixed‑effects time‑series and partially cross‑sectional regression techniques).
• Including testing and interpretation of econometric models.
• Experience of software or code for advanced econometric analysis (e.g., Stata, R, Python).
• Ability to condense complex analytical ideas and models into terms suitable for policy colleagues to gain insight.
• Experience of fixed‑effect regression analysis of panel data.
• Detailed knowledge of caveats and benefits of various types of econometric regression analysis.

Desirable Requirements

• Coding experience in R and Python.
• Experience on economic productivity analysis, especially from an econometric perspective. Familiarity with economic growth decomposition analysis.
• Experience writing accessible reports compatible with GOV.UK publication.

Please be aware that this role can only be worked within the UK and not overseas.

Disability Confident

As a member of the Disability Confident Scheme, DSIT guarantees to interview all candidates who have a disability and who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of candidates who have a disability who meet all the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group. This scheme encourages candidates with a disability and/or neurodivergence to apply. In exceptional circumstances, we may also need to apply the desirable criteria in our shortlisting process which may include holding active security clearance.

Armed Forces Covenant

DSIT guarantees to interview veterans or spouses / partners of military personnel who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of ex‑military candidates / military spouses or partners, who meet all of the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group. In exceptional circumstances, we may also need to apply the desirable criteria in our shortlisting process which may include holding active security clearance.

In applying for this role, you acknowledge the following "this role falls in scope of the Off Payroll Working in the Public Sector legislation. Any rates of payment quoted will reflect the gross rate per day for the assignment and will be subject to appropriate taxes and statutory costs. As such the payment to the intermediary and your income resulting from this contract will be different".