Economic Assistant (Part-time)
About The Position
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is the federal government’s principal fact-finding agency in labor economics and statistics. It collects, processes, analyzes, and disseminates statistical data to the public, Congress, federal, state, and local governments, businesses, and labor, and serves as a statistical resource to the U.S. Department of Labor. Economic Assistants collect prices and related data on commodities, services, and housing for the BLS Consumer Price Index. The position is part-time, with an initial average of 16 to 32 hours per week depending on workload and training. Hours vary week to week and may include day, evening, and weekend work. It is not a remote position. Work is primarily in San Francisco, California, with travel throughout Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, and San Mateo counties. The role involves visits to retail stores, businesses, and residences. Temporary travel outside the duty station is required, including travel for scheduled mandatory training. 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 conditions, and adverse weather.
- Must obtain the necessary 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 is required.
- Qualifying specialized 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 with public contact.
- Must be available for a variable work schedule, including day, evening, and weekend hours as required.
- Must be able to make personal visits to housing units, including walking and standing for long periods and walking on uneven surfaces.
- Must be able to travel temporarily outside the duty station by various modes of transportation.
Responsibilities
- Visit retail and service establishments, such as department stores, supermarkets, medical offices, and hotels, to collect retail price data.
- Collect retail price data from e-commerce websites; collect a limited amount of data by telephone, fax, email, and 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, other professionals, property managers, tenants, and homeowners.
- 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 scheduled mandatory classroom training, which may require travel to Washington, D.C., or another location.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Part-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
No Education Listed
