Economist

State of Montana•Helena, MT

17h•Hybrid

About The Position

Economist in the Data & Operations Bureau will turn labor market and economic data into insights that help Montana invest in its people, communities, and industries, with a special focus on healthcare jobs and careers. This role will lead research and analysis that inform real decisions about workforce policy, grants, and economic development, giving leaders clear information they can use. The Economist will design and complete original labor market studies, improve the way data is organized and shared, and turn complex findings into straightforward information that people can act on. This position is ideal for someone who likes working with data, solving problems, and collaborating with others to answer real-world questions, and who wants to see their work directly shape important choices across Montana’s workforce system.

Requirements

Economic and labor market analysis: Use core economic concepts to analyze labor market and industry data and turn the results into clear, practical insights for programs, policy, and business decisions.
Advanced statistical and modeling skills: Apply regression, forecasting, and econometric tools to large, complex datasets and produce results that are accurate and well supported.
Data management and programming: Work confidently with large datasets using tools such as SAS, SQL, VBA, Python, R, or similar languages to clean, combine, and prepare data for analysis and visualization.
Data visualization and communication: Share technical information clearly with both technical and non-technical audiences through written reports, presentations, and tools such as Tableau or similar platforms.
Collaboration and teamwork: Build strong working relationships with staff and partners, listen to different perspectives, and coordinate efforts to share data and align evaluation and reporting.
Problem solving and project management: Handle multiple projects at the same time, set priorities when timelines are tight, and adjust your approach as new data or questions come in while keeping people updated.
Stakeholder-focused service: Work with a service mindset, seek feedback from internal and external partners, and adjust your analyses and products so they better meet user needs and support good decisions.
Demonstrated proficiency in conducting economic, labor market, or closely related research, including collecting, cleaning, and analyzing data, interpreting findings, and producing clear written reports or visualizations.
Strong proficiency using statistical or programming tools such as SAS, SQL, VBA, Python, R, or similar to manipulate, merge, and analyze large datasets in applied research, evaluation, or analytics settings.
Thorough experience designing or contributing to evaluations of programs, policies, or grants, including building measures, analyzing results, and offering evidence-based recommendations.
Demonstrated ability to explain complex analytical concepts in clear written and verbal communication, such as through presentations, policy briefs, or other products tailored to diverse audiences.
Proven track record working on collaborative, multi-stakeholder projects, such as cross-agency data efforts, workforce initiatives, or grant projects that require coordination, shared standards, and joint problem solving.
Employees for the State of Montana must reside within Montana.

Nice To Haves

A degree in economics, mathematics, statistics, data science, public policy, or a closely related field may supplement relevant professional experience but is not a substitute for demonstrated skills and competencies in the areas noted above.
Equivalent combinations of education and directly related experience will be considered.

Responsibilities

Lead economic research by gathering, analyzing, and interpreting labor market and industry data, including trends and forecasts that affect Montana’s jobs and economy.
Design and manage labor market projects that combine data from many sources and provide a detailed look at Montana’s workforce, especially healthcare supply, demand, and related needs.
Plan and carry out evaluations that look at how well workforce programs are working, set clear measures of success, and recommend practical ways to improve results.
Help shape and coordinate data systems across agencies and partners so information is collected in consistent ways and can be used for strong reporting and evaluation.
Turn complex analyses into clear, useful takeaways for leaders, policymakers, and community partners through reports, briefings, and presentations that focus on what matters most.
Build and maintain dashboards and similar tools that give users quick, up-to-date views of labor market conditions, program performance, and workforce initiatives.
Use advanced statistical and econometric methods to make sense of complex or incomplete data, answer specialized questions, and explain what different trends or scenarios might mean.
Work closely with other economists, internal teams, and outside partners to define projects, choose methods, review results, and ensure that labor market information is accurate and reliable.

Benefits

Work/life balance with hybrid schedules or partial telework may be available within the state of Montana.
38 paid days off a year including vacation, sick leave and holidays.
Military leave: You’ll get up to 15 days of military leave with full pay.
Longevity raises with continuous service, as well as any negotiated market increases and state statutory raises.
Health, dental, vision, life insurance coverage, flexible spending accounts, EAP
Free telehealth and access to free employee medical clinics through our medical plan
Choice between two retirement plans with an employer contribution between 8.73% - 9.07% of your annual salary.
A third optional 457(b) deferred compensation plan is also available.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness- Employment with the State of Montana may qualify you to receive loan forgiveness!
Career progression, training opportunities and room for professional growth.
State employee discounts at various businesses across the state.
This position may be eligible for a statutory $1.00 an hour base pay increase effective on July 1, 2026.
This position may be covered by a Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association (VEBA)