A career in economics can touch on virtually any aspect of life and business. Being a government economist in the Government Economic Service is not just a question of analysing figures. It is work that sees you closely involved in important current issues and helping shape government policy.
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Economist Fast Stream Applications
As an additional number of posts have arisen across the GES, there will now be a second round which will open on Monday 5 March 2012 and will close on Tuesday 10 April 2012.
Please note: If you have applied in Round 1 2012, you cannot apply for Round 2.
UPDATE: The 2012 Summer vacation placement scheme, which opened at 0900 on Wednesday 1st February, has now closed for applications.
Fast Stream Assistant Economist Appointments
These appointments are at graduate entry level or for those with less than 3 years work experience as a professional economist.
To apply for a Fast Stream Assistant Economist post, you should already have, or hope to obtain in 2012, a first or upper second class honours degree in economics, or a postgraduate degree in economics. At least 50% of the course modules must be in economics. You must have studied both macro and microeconomics to qualify. If you graduated more than 5 years ago, you must give examples in the competency section of the application form, of economic articles you have read in depth to demonstrate that you have maintained competency in economics.
For more information, including the scheme timetable, see the Assistant Economist pages.
Banking EACs
If you were successful at the Economic Assessment Centre (EAC) in November 2010 but were then unsuccessful at FSAC, you may be thinking about re-applying. Do make sure you requested feedback from your FSAC so that you know what areas you need to work on. If you do re-apply for the 2012 scheme you will be able to bank your EAC. This means that you will not need to re-sit EAC. You will however have to complete, and pass, all other stages of the recruitment process on merit, including completing the application form and being sifted in to the process. Just because you passed EAC last year does not mean you will be automatically pass the manual sift this year. Applications to the Government Economic service have increased by 50% and demand is likely to be lower than in previous years so do please take some time to complete the application form (checking against the GES sift criteria) to ensure your form fully reflects your skills and experience. Please note that you cannot ‘bank’ your EAC two years in a row.
Student placements
As a student, you would provide support to professional economists dealing with a range of issues affecting Government policy. For more information see Student placements.
See Summer Student page for latest information.
Nationality requirements for GES appointments
Applicants for GES posts must be UK nationals, Commonwealth citizens, members of the European Economic Area (EEA), or Swiss nationals who have the right to live and work in the United Kingdom. There are further restrictions for the Diplomatic Service Options.
Immigration
Please note that it is possible to meet the above nationality requirements and still not be legally entitled to work in the UK. The UK Border Agency operate a points-based immigration policy which applies to the migrants from outside the European Economic Area, Switzerland and Turkey.
It is your responsibility to check whether this policy applies to you. Departments are under no obligation to sponsor work permits under the UK Border Agency’s points-based immigration policy. Therefore, if you require a permit to work in the UK, there is no guarantee that you will be offered a place even if you pass the Fast Stream selection process. In these circumstances the decision to apply, which might involve travel to the UK two or more times to complete the selection process, is yours alone. We can take no responsibility if no place is available for you in the Fast Stream on immigration grounds.
You can find further information about this and the other nationality requirements in Fast Stream.