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2026_AE Grad Scheme JD - ONS
Locations: Newport (South Wales) and Titchfield (Fareham)
Salary: £35,144 (HEO Specialist National)
Number of places: 23
Office for National Statistics (ONS)
About the ONS:
The locations for this role are Newport (South Wales) and Titchfield (Fareham).
At the Office for National Statistics (ONS), we have unrivalled access to a vast breadth and depth of data. Every day, we use this to produce trusted statistics and insightful analysis that informs both the public and policymakers on the issues that matter most.
ONS is the UK’s largest producer of official statistics, covering a range of key economic, social and demographic topics. These include measuring the UK economy’s output, trade, prices, employment, earnings, public sector finances and more; alongside estimating the population and migration, including through the Census, and providing indicators of crime and health.
ONS is at the forefront in providing trusted and impartial evidence to central government, devolved administrations, and the public to help understand impacts to our society and economy. Through the wide range of data we have available, and developments in how we gather and analyse it, we continue to ensure our evidence provides clear insights and impacts. There has never been a busier and more exciting time to play a key role in shaping the future.
The ONS operates a flexible hybrid working model across the UK, with colleagues linked to one of our contractual locations working between office and remote throughout the week.
All colleagues are required to work from their contractually allocated site for at least 40% of their working time.
ONS induction process will be conducted in person.
The Assistant Economist role:
Assistant Economists work across a wide range of analytical and statistical roles within the Surveys and Economic Statistics Group (SES). These roles provide opportunities to develop deep expertise in specific areas while building analytical skills with wider application across the organisation. Many teams work closely with analysts in other government departments, international organisations, and external stakeholders.
SES is delivering major programmes of transformation to improve the quality, relevance and accessibility of core economic and social statistics, aligned with the ONS mission statement “‘to deliver trustworthy, independent, high-quality statistics that underpin the UK’s most critical economic and societal decisions and inform the public”. Assistant Economists contribute directly to this mission by informing debate and improving decision making through high‑quality, easy‑to‑use analysis of the UK economy and society.
Assistant Economist work may support areas such as infrastructure planning, regional development, labour market analysis, or analysis of human capital.
Examples of roles:
Identifying key movements in economic statistics and producing clear, accessible commentary for public consumption.
Using ONS data sources to undertake microeconomic, macroeconomic, and regional economic analysis.
Contributing to improvements in the data, methods and statistics that underpin ONS economic and social outputs.
Combining curiosity about data with an understanding of economic theory to make sure that economic statistics outputs are coherent and high quality.
Liaising with internal and external data suppliers (including across government and international agencies) to acquire data, address quality issues and obtain sign-off for analysis.
Working with Publishing colleagues to ensure outputs meet accessibility and user‑experience standards, including producing high‑quality charts and plain‑English narratives.
Supporting and sometimes leading on the production and publication of key statistical releases.
Developing and applying statistical, empirical and econometric techniques using software such as R or Python, with a commitment to continuous learning.
Supporting branch‑wide activities such as user engagement, quality assurance procedures and development of efficient, reproducible code.
Providing economic insights to the team, division and wider organisation.
Supporting project management, including resource planning, international engagement, user engagement and communications activities.
Representing the branch at external stakeholder meetings or events and collaborating with external experts.
Taking responsibility for personal learning and development, particularly around economic expertise and analytical practice.
Learning and Development Opportunities:
ONS is modern, technically focused and data driven and as an Assistant Economist within ONS, you will have access to a wide range of learning and development opportunities to enhance your skillsets, including:
Collaborating with other government departments (e.g. HM Treasury, DBT, DfE, DWP, DHSC, MHCLG, Cabinet Office).
Representing ONS at external organisations, international agencies, seminars and conferences.
Enhancing communication skills through publications, media handling and user engagement.
Broadening analytical skills, from data analysis and coding to drafting articles and presenting results.
Access to extensive learning pathways, including R, Python, Excel, analytical techniques, leadership and management, and wellbeing.
Opportunities to participate in cross‑cutting analytical projects across ONS and wider government.
Contributing to high‑profile ONS publications and building the Government Economic Service (GES) core competencies:
Application of Knowledge
Analysis of Data
Effective Communication
Once you join ONS, there may also be opportunities to take part in rotation exercises, enabling you to widen your experience and develop your expertise across a range of economic outputs.
Further Information:
At ONS we are always looking to attract the very best people from the widest possible talent pool, and we are proud to be an inclusive, diverse, and equal opportunities employer. As a member of the Business Disability Forum and a Disability Confident Leader we are committed to ensuring that all candidates are treated fairly throughout the recruitment process.
We aim to develop all our staff to enable them to make a full contribution to meeting the Department’s objectives, and to fulfil their own potential. We are an organisation that takes well-being seriously and lives and breathes the desire to modernise the workplace of the future. Everyone, from our office-based colleagues across our office sites, to our field interviewers and airports and ports passenger survey teams, are part of a diverse and inclusive family.
Eligibility Requirements:
Candidates will need to hold the right to work in the UK and meet Civil Service Nationality Rules.
Security:
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Security Clearance:
For ONS the requirement for Security Check (SC) clearance is to have been present in the UK for 3 consecutive years immediately prior to applying and the department will consider eligibility by exception on a case-by-case basis. You will be asked to provide information regarding your UK residency during your application, and failure to provide this will result in your application being rejected.
If you are unsure that you meet the eligibility above, please read the information available on Gov.uk on this link. Failure to meet the residency requirements will result in your security clearance application being rejected and any offer of employment being withdrawn.
At the point of SC application, you will need to provide or give access to the following evidence:
Departmental or company records (personnel files, staff reports, sick leave reports and security records)
UK criminal records covering both spent and unspent criminal records
Your credit and financial history with a credit reference agency
Security Services records
Nationality requirements:
These roles are 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
Please contact: ges.hop@ons.gov.uk for more information
