Economic Assistant (Part-Time)

Bureau of Labor Statistics • Minneapolis, MN

8d • Onsite

About The Position

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the federal government’s principal fact-finding agency in labor economics and statistics, collects, processes, analyzes, and disseminates statistical data to the public, Congress, government agencies, businesses, and labor. Economic Assistants collect prices and related data on commodities, services, and housing for the Consumer Price Index. This is a part-time, non-remote position based primarily in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with travel throughout specified counties in Minnesota and Wisconsin. The initial average schedule is 16 to 32 hours per week, varying with workload, training, and work requirements. Availability may be needed for day, evening, and weekend work. The role requires visits to retail stores, businesses, and residences, as well as occasional travel for training and meetings. The position does not lead to full-time employment and is not an entry-level economist position.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. citizen.
• Must be at least 16 years old.
• Must have a valid driver's license; driving may involve highways and local streets, nighttime driving, and adverse weather.
• Must obtain the required security/investigation level and undergo a background investigation as a condition of employment.
• For GS-06: one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-05 level.
• Qualifying experience may include using computers and software to collect, compile, analyze, or report primary data; initiating contacts with establishments and professionals to price goods and services; or interviewer/intake work requiring detailed record-keeping or oral persuasion skills with public contact.
• Must be available for a variable part-time schedule that may include day, evening, and weekend hours as required.
• Must be able to travel temporarily outside the duty station and make personal visits to housing units.
• Must be able to walk and stand for long periods and walk on uneven surfaces during housing data collection.

Responsibilities

• Visit retail and service establishments, including department stores, supermarkets, medical offices, and hotels, to collect retail price data.
• Collect retail price data from e-commerce websites and, in limited cases, by telephone, fax, email, or video.
• Contact homeowners, renters, and apartment management companies through neighborhood visits and follow-up telephone interviews to collect housing data.
• Conduct personal and telephone interviews with store managers, buyers, auto dealership managers, doctors, pharmacists, and other professionals.
• Collect and enter data using a handheld computer.
• Review electronic collection forms on a Tablet PC for internal consistency and compliance with survey requirements.
• Obtain voluntary cooperation from survey respondents.
• Travel to a field office for on-the-job training and periodic meetings.
• Attend required classroom training at the BLS training center in Washington, D.C., or another scheduled location.

Benefits

• Federal employees and their families have access to a comprehensive benefits package; specific eligibility depends on position type, including whether the position is part-time or intermittent.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed