Economist (Office of Economic & Demographic Research)

Do not click the Apply button. Applications are available Here.

General Summary

This is work with the Office of Economic & Demographic Research functioning as a technical expert performing a variety of analytical tasks on which state financial policy is based.

Examples of Work Performed

• Constructs and maintains models of the state’s economy and analyzes effects of actual or proposed policy changes on the state’s population and economy. 
• Constructs forecasting models for state revenues. 
• Estimates changes in the size and composition of various subpopulations and/or tax bases included in the assigned area of responsibility. 
• Maintains liaison with agencies of state government that interact with the assigned area of responsibility. 
• Makes quantitative assessments of the effects of actual or proposed legislation and policy changes on state and local revenues and state government operations. 
• Constructs databases and models used to forecast client population in current and prospective state programs. 
• Constructs and maintains forecasting models of the workload of state agencies. 
• Participates in studies of continuing and special types of financial and other economic events affecting the state economy. 
• Represents the Office at consensus estimating conferences and meetings with senior state agency and legislative personnel. 
• May draft legislation to implement committee proposals. 
• Makes oral presentations to legislative committees and briefs individual Legislators and committee staffs on research undertaken by the Office. 
• Responds to information requests by Legislators, state and local government units, interest groups, and the public. 
• Assists in the preparation of estimates of state revenues and expenditures for current and future fiscal periods assuring for coordination and consistency between short-term and long-range estimates, as well as across related estimating conferences. 
• Performs other related duties as required.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of basic economic theory. 
• Knowledge of statistics. 
• Knowledge of forecasting and projection techniques. 
• Knowledge of social science research practices and standards. 
• Knowledge of computer software used in database management and quantitative analysis. Knowledge of basic financial analysis principles. 
• Knowledge of data sources used in economic and demographic analysis. 
• Knowledge of the law governing the revenues or caseloads being forecast. 
• Knowledge of the regulatory structures that affect the revenues or caseloads being forecast. 
• Knowledge of the planning and budgeting process. 
• Ability to plan, organize, and coordinate work assignments. 
• Ability to work independently. 
• Ability to prepare economic related charts, tables, slides, and other graphic presentations of data.
• Ability to explain and defend forecasts before other forecasters. 
• Ability to present technical materials to non-technical audiences in both written and oral forms. 
• Ability to work effectively with Legislators and legislative committee staff. 
• Ability to work effectively with the public and other interest groups. 
• Ability to collect, analyze, and interpret economic data. 
• Ability to organize economic data into logical format.

Minimum Qualifications

A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and five years of professional research experience in one or more of the following areas: revenue or caseload forecasting; economic forecasting; program research for a governmental agency, research institute or consulting firm; or full time instruction and/or research at a college or university in any of the following areas: economics, demographics, social sciences, business or public administration, mathematics or statistics. 

A master’s degree from an accredited college or university in economics, business or public administration, mathematics, statistics, or any of the social sciences can substitute for one year of the required experience. 

A doctorate from an accredited college or university in economics, business or public administration, mathematics, statistics, or any of the social sciences can substitute for two years of the required experience.

Applicants who do not meet the minimum qualifications may still apply if they demonstrate the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the specified work.

Salary

Salary is commensurate with experience.

The Legislature offers a competitive benefits package.

Application Deadline

Open until filled

Submission of Application

Qualified applicants should send a completed legislative application and detailed resume to: 

Office of Legislative Services

Human Resources Office

111 W. Madison Street, Room 701

Tallahassee, FL 32399-1400

or e-mail OLSHRS@leg.state.fl.us

Applications are available through the Florida Legislature's web site Online Sunshine and in Room 701 of the Claude Pepper Building.

Accommodation for Disability

If an accommodation is needed for a disability, please notify Human Resources at (850) 488-6803.

Do not click the Apply button. Applications are available Here.