2026_AE Grad Scheme JD - DFT

Department for Transport (DfT) 

Locations: London, Birmingham, Leeds 

Number of positions available: 9 

Salary: National £35,663. London £39,533.  

About DfT 

The UK’s transport system is used by most of the population every day, whether travelling to and from work, school, shops, hospitals, or just meeting friends and family. Transport is key to growing and levelling up the economy, reducing environmental impacts and increasing the UK’s global impact. 

The Department for Transport is investing to make journeys better: simpler, faster, and more reliable. Our policies and regulations support jobs, enable business growth, and bring our country closer together. 

The role of Economists 

Our analysis gives ministers fresh ideas about big, complex issues and deep insight into policy options. We analyse the wide-ranging economic impacts of transport schemes. We assess the social and environmental benefits and costs, to get a full picture of the impact of a scheme. 

We look ahead at key trends in society, such as population growth or the number of trips people take, to forecast how demand for transport will change in the future. 

Working in DfT 

Our roles offer the chance to put your academic knowledge and skills into practice and gain experience in government economics, in an organisation that genuinely values sound analytical thinking. There are opportunities to apply economics expertise to live policy issues, use econometrics, develop cutting-edge appraisal guidance, use economics to support the development of transport schemes and comparison of options, and more. 

The roles offer high levels of responsibility, with the chance to manage your own projects. Experienced Assistant Economists often get the chance to manage a summer student. Work can be a mix of fast paced analysis and longer-term projects