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Two female colleagues sitting in the audience at an event. they are chatting and drinking coffee.

How to Apply to be an Assistant Economist

Applying to become an economist is more open and fair than it has ever been. We will look to assess your skills, experience as well as your strengths and will give you the best opportunity to showcase these.

Who we’re looking for

This is a recruitment scheme for economics graduates which sits beside the fast stream as a main route into a role as an Assistant Economist in the Government Economic Service. To help us deliver analysis we are looking for economists to join us and influence the day-to-day lives of every person in the UK.

As an assistant economist, you will be joining a community of over 3,500 economists across more than 30 organisations, putting your economic learning to direct use by influencing high profile public policies with the best possible economic analysis. This is an exciting time to be joining the civil service, and with continuous support you’ll prepare vital briefings for ministers or the public, provide advice on policy options, and ensure the quality and appropriate use of economic statistics.

Developing your skills

We take your development seriously and while earning a competitive salary, there will be plenty of support to further your development as an economist. You will broaden your subject knowledge through professional experience, continuous professional development, and access to tailored training, seminars and events.

The GES offers plenty of courses and high-quality training to help you do so where some of the competencies you could develop include:

  • strong quantitative skills: you’ll become an expert in manipulating and presenting data
  • writing and presentation techniques: communicating economics clearly and succinctly to senior officials and ministers
  • applied economics skills: using economic insights and techniques to inform policy on anything from the environment to transport.

“I am incredibly proud of the work of economists in the civil service. Our relevant, rigorous and respected analysis has put us at the heart of major policy decisions over the years and the GES has come to be recognised as a highly effective body of professional economists.”

Sam Beckett

Head of GES

Show more

You are eligible to apply if you’re a:​​

  • British citizen European Economic Area (EEA)​
  • Commonwealth citizen Swiss national​
  • Turkish national, in some circumstances​
  • Individuals will need to demonstrate that they meet the relevant immigration requirements and demonstrate their eligibility under the Civil Service Nationality Rules (CSNRs).
  • Individuals must have the right to work in the UK, and we do not offer sponsorship for these vacancies.

Nationality requirements are explained in more detail in the Civil Service nationality rules.

Please click here for more information.

For our graduate recruitment schemes applicants will need to possess or will be expected to have a first or upper second-class honours degree. Here are the essential criteria:

  • Hold an Economics degree by August 2024, or if you completed a joint degree, at least 50% of the modules must be economics, or you must have a MSc in economics.
  • Modules must have covered both micro and macroeconomics to qualify.
  • If you graduated more than five years ago then you must have examples of how you have maintained your economic knowledge on the first role specific question on the application form.

Eligibility is broadly open to the following groups:

  • UK nationals
  • nationals of the Republic of Ireland
  • nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
  • nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
  • nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
  • individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
  • Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

The Government Economic Service Assistant Economist vacancy is now closed for applications.

Resources

Click the links below to access practice tests:

Civil Service test information​

Verbal practice test​

Numerical practice test

Contract Terms and Applications

Contracts are open to accommodate working pattern needs and can be on a full or part-time basis.

All civil servants are appointed on merit through fair and open competition.

The selection process will consider your attitude, capability, talent and willingness to learn.

If appointed you will be expected to carry out your role with dedication and a commitment to the Civil Service and its core values of integrity, honesty, objectivity and impartiality.

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