Economic Assistant (Part-time)

Bureau of Labor Statistics • Sacramento, CA

8d • Onsite

About The Position

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the federal government’s principal agency for labor economics and statistics, collects, processes, analyzes, and disseminates statistical data to the public and government stakeholders. Economic Assistants collect prices and related data on commodities, services, and housing for the Consumer Price Index. The position is part-time and does not lead to full-time employment. It begins at an average of 16 to 32 hours per week, depending on workload and training, and the schedule varies week to week. Work may include a mix of daytime, evening, and weekend hours. The position is based primarily in Sacramento, California, with travel throughout El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, and Yolo counties. It requires visits to retail stores, businesses, and residences, as well as temporary travel outside the duty station. Mandatory classroom training may require travel to Washington, D.C., or another location; some housing and commodities-and-services training is conducted remotely. This is not an entry-level economist position. The role is not remote: the selected employee reports regularly to an assigned Department of Labor office and may participate in telework as management determines under agency policy.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. citizen.
• Must be at least 16 years old.
• Must have a valid driver's license.
• Must obtain the required security/investigation level.
• Must meet the qualifications, legal requirements, and regulatory requirements by the announcement closing date.
• For GS-06 qualification, must have 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 experience involving detailed record-keeping or oral persuasion with public contact.
• Must be available for a variable work schedule that can include day, evening, and weekend hours as needed.
• Must be able to travel temporarily outside the duty station by various modes of transportation.
• The work requires personal visits to housing units and walking or standing for long periods, including walking on uneven surfaces.
• Driving may involve highways and local streets, nighttime conditions, and adverse weather.
• A probationary period is required if the applicable requirement has not already been met.

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, to a limited extent, by telephone, fax, email, and video.
• Conduct personal and telephone interviews with store managers, buyers, auto dealership managers, doctors, pharmacists, and other professionals to collect commodities and services data.
• Contact homeowners, renters, and apartment management companies through neighborhood visits and follow-up telephone interviews to collect housing survey data.
• 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 mandatory training, which may require travel.

What This Job Offers

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