Social Research Specialist II

State of North Carolina

2d

About The Position

This position is an exciting opportunity for an applied analyst to work with employment statistics produced in collaboration with the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). This position is responsible for providing operational support and expert knowledge to the team, team management, regional and federal partners, and external stakeholders regarding three BLS programs: the Quarterly Census of Wages and Employment (QCEW), Current Employment Statistics (CES), and Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS).

The Labor and Economic Analysis Division (LEAD) serves as North Carolina’s primary resource for economic and labor market insights. LEAD collects and processes data, analyzes key economic indicators, and provides research to inform decision-making across education, workforce and economic development. This position is part of the Employment Statistics and Analysis team within LEAD.

Requirements

• Knowledge of economic, educational, and/or social research principles, including data collection, survey methods, sampling, correlation, and regression analysis.
• Demonstrated experience collecting, processing, reviewing, and assessing the validity and accuracy of social and/or economic data.
• Demonstrated experience using Microsoft Excel and data analysis software (SAS, R, Stata, SPSS) to analyze data and create reports.
• Demonstrated experience synthesizing data, documentation, and program requirements from diverse sources to identify process improvements, recommend initiatives, streamline workflows, and develop clear, sustainable process documentation.
• Demonstrated experience creating clear and engaging written and verbal explanations of technical concepts for non‑technical audiences, such as presentations, customer-facing documentation, and training materials.
• Bachelor’s degree in a discipline related to the field assigned to the position from an appropriately accredited institution and two years of related experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Responsibilities

• Carry out program operations involved with the collection, processing, review, and publication of employment data
• Process, review, and verify data from various sources, including unemployment insurance program data
• Work with team, team management, and employers to resolve data quality issues specific to large employers, such as professional employer organizations and multi-location employers
• Provide technical support to team and employers
• Apply subject matter expertise to analyze and interpret trends in economic data

Benefits

• 12 Annual Paid Holidays and monthly accrual of vacation and sick leave
• North Carolina State Health Plan administered by Aetna
• Supplemental Benefits including Flexible Spending Accounts, Accident Insurance, Cancer & Specified Disease, Critical Illness, Dental, and Vision
• NC State Retirement (TSERS), 401(k), and 457 savings plans
• WeSave Employee Discounts
• Eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees