Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)

Locations: Leeds, London, Manchester, Newcastle, Sheffield, Cardiff*, Glasgow, Birmingham 

All locations are subject to demand management approvals so we cannot guarantee a location.

These job roles may be suitable for hybrid working, which is where an employee works part of the week in their DWP office and part of the week from home. This is a voluntary, non-contractual arrangement and your office will be your contractual place of work. The number of days that anyone will be able to work at home will be determined primarily by business need, but personal circumstances and other relevant circumstances will also be taken into account. If you are successful, any opportunities for hybrid working, including whether a hybrid working arrangement is suitable for you, will be discussed with you prior to you taking up your post.  

Number of positions available: up to 30 

Salary: National: £40,173, London: £45,202

About DWP:
DWP is the largest Government department supporting work, welfare, pensions, and child maintenance, with annual expenditure of over £220 billion per year on welfare benefits. Nearly everyone will interact with our services at some point during their lifetime.  

Overview of work areas 

DWP offers a huge range of opportunities for economists to apply our economic knowledge to real-world problems, considering macroeconomics (e.g., labour market recovery) and microeconomics (e.g., encouraging individuals to save more in their pension). We analyse data, build models, evaluate programmes, and trial the latest thinking in economics (including behavioural economics) to ensure high-quality evidence is informing and influencing future policy. 

Our Assistant Economists work across a wide range of areas answering crucial questions such as: 

• What works to increase employment rates in later life? 

• How can we encourage more people to save into a pension? 

• What are the drivers of inequality and poverty? 

• How has Covid-19 impacted the labour market and how effective have our labour market interventions been? 

• What is effective in reducing and preventing fraud and error in benefit expenditure? 

• What are the drivers behind earnings growth and job progression? 

• What are our customers’ experience and what interventions have the most impact? 

DWP Economist community 

You will be joining a thriving and active economist community of around 200 people. We invest in creating a community that supports people throughout their time in DWP. There are opportunities to take part in regular in-house economist debates, economist events exploring the theoretical economics behind our policies, seminars on the latest econometric thinking, annual economist conferences and socials across all our locations. Plus loads more! 

Opportunities for Development (rotations, line management, training, S-level promotion opportunities?) 

Development of Assistant Economists is a crucial part of our offer in the department. To support this, we regularly run “Managed Moves” allowing you the opportunity to take part in rotations across the department to broaden your experience and skills (AEs generally rotate every 12-24 months). There are also line management opportunities of placement and summer students and opportunities to lead on corporate activities across the department (e.g. supporting recruitment campaigns). We have a number of training courses and induction programmes to support people.

Security Clearance, Medical requirements, Nationality requirements details etc. 

Baseline security clearance – in line with standard GES process. 

Contact point for further details:
For further information on working as an Assistant Economist in DWP, please contact the grade managers – Lewis Gill (lewis.gill@dwp.gov.uk), Tom Stewart (tom.stewart@dwp.gov.uk), and Meshkath Mukul (meshkath.mukul@dwp.gov.uk).