RESEARCH ECONOMIST 4
Career Family: RESEARCH ECONOMIST
Research Economist 4 is a state title in New Jersey's competitive civil service, which means the way in is an open exam rather than a direct appointment.
It is a middle Research Economist grade, between Research Economist 2 below and the better-paid Research Economist 1 above. The main requirement is a doctoral degree. Pay on the FY 2027 schedule runs $100,498 to $148,187, and state payroll currently lists 2 people in the title, led by Treasury.
How to apply
This title is filled by competitive examination.
See every real route in, and where to apply. 2 agencies employ it. We don't track live vacancies.
See all 2 employers and how to apply →Who employs this title
Research Economist 4 appears on the State payroll at 2 departments, most of them at Department of Treasury.
State departments
| Employer | Employees |
|---|---|
| Department of Treasury | 1 |
| Department of Labor | 1 |
State payroll and independent authority payroll are separate systems and are never merged. See data sources.
Pay ladder: Research Economist series
- Research Economist 3 — $91,628 – $134,900
- Research Economist 2 — $95,955 – $141,386
- Research Economist 4 — $100,498 – $148,187 (this title)
- Research Economist 1 — $105,267 – $155,359
Promoting to Research Economist 1 raises the top of the band by about $7,172. Its top salary lands around the 88th percentile of all NJ civil service titles that publish a range.
Rungs are ordered by FY 2027 pay. NJ level numbers are not always sequential, so ordering follows salary rather than the title number.
Who employs this title
State payroll records show 2 people working under this title. The median actual salary is $120,138. The agencies employing the most are:
- Treasury (1)
- Labor (1)
Counts from NJ YourMoney agency payroll. See statewide workforce analytics.
Official job specification
The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator. Source: the official specification page at NJ CSC.
Definition
Under the direction of a supervisory official in a state department or agency, supervises professional and/or technical staff responsible for organizing, analyzing and interpreting economic data, or serves as a subject matter expert responsible for individually conducting the most complex and/or sensitive economic research studies; does other related duties as required.
Examples of work
- Plans and conducts independent research to estimate, project, and forecast changes in employment, population, income, hours worked, supply and demand, industrial growth, and other indicators of economic activity
- Supervises a unit responsible for organizing, analyzing and interpreting economic data
- Takes the lead in designing projects of a broad scope and assigns and coordinates research staff to develop, conduct, and evaluate pilot projects and refine existing programs
- Devises new, and revises existing, methods for collecting and processing varied economic and statistical data, and analyzes and interprets such data
- Ensures the accuracy and integrity of data used by subordinates
- Analyzes, forecasts, and reports on the economic impact on New Jersey of actual or proposed federal and state programs and legislation and/or activities proposed or undertaken by public and private organizations. Determines micro segments which may be affected and formulates research designs to be followed by lower level Economists
- Analyzes and interprets highly sensitive and/or non-routine data to evaluate economic factors; utilizes statistical software, and the application of modeling and trend analysis techniques
- Designs and conducts surveys utilizing sampling techniques and monitors experiments to obtain desired types of information
- Initiates techniques for estimating probable costs and predicting the probable success and/or utility of research studies and/or program evaluations
- Evaluates the results of externally and internally conducted research; determines soundness of research; prepares recommendations for implementing or rejecting proposed solutions, plans of action, and/or program and service concepts
- Acts as an advisor, consultant and instructor to economic and statistical research personnel concerning methods and applications
- Supervises the work operations and/or functional programs and has responsibility for effectively recommending the hiring, firing, promoting, demoting and/or disciplining of employees
- Prepares visual aide materials such as charts, graphs and diagrams to illustrate trends, forecasts, and the results of impact analysis
- Performs the most difficult mathematical and statistical calculations; ensures the accuracy of calculations performed by subordinates
- May respond to internal and external requests for information
- May be required to generate, assemble, retrieve from, manipulate, or format data bases for use in research, analysis, or report generation by use of computer packages such as Statistical Analysis System (SAS), or comparable software, and by use of formalized Job Control Language (JCL), or comparable machine instruction statements
- May be required to perform statistical, economic, or demographic analyses using computer packages such as Statistical Analysis System (SAS), CENSPAC, or comparable software, and by use of formalized Job Control Language (JCL), or comparable machine instruction statements
- Researches the economic impact of actual or proposed federal and state programs and legislation and/or activities proposed or undertaken by public and private organizations
- Assists in the development of new concepts for application of research and statistical techniques to answer a wide variety of questions or problems which affect the economy or any of its segments
- Designs and prepares reports showing economic trends, changes in employment, workforce distribution and demographics, industrial growth, or other similar measures of economic activity; prepares and delivers presentations and/or briefings based on highly complex analysis or potentially controversial topics about economic trends
- Maintains records and files
- Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units
Education
Possession of a Doctorate's degree in Economics from an accredited college or university
Experience
Three (3) years of comprehensive, technical research and analysis experience in the field of economics or a closely allied field.
License
Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform essential duties of the position.
Knowledge, skills and abilities
- Knowledge of research principles, including integrating analysis of data to discover facts and develop knowledge, concepts or interpretations
- Knowledge of economic and statistical principles and theories and their specific application to research and planning
- Knowledge of methods used in establishing samples, devising comprehensive surveys and research projects, and making statistical analyses involving the application of statistical measures
- Knowledge of economic research techniques such as literature reviews, proposal writing, methods of statistical analysis (e.g. sample methods, risk analysis, cost-benefit analysis, etc.), and hypothesis testing
- Knowledge of mathematical and econometric modeling techniques
- Ability to design and conduct complex and/or sensitive economic research studies requiring comprehensive economic analysis, forecasting, and econometric modeling
- Ability to independently analyze and interpret economic and social data
- Ability to conduct special research programs and identify program needs, and to assist in evaluating program effectiveness
- Ability to apply and utilize advanced economic and statistical principles, practices, and techniques to identify trends, analyze data, and develop forecasts
- Ability to devise methods and procedures for collecting and processing data.
- Ability to perform complex mathematical and statistical calculations
- Ability to plan, supervise and coordinate statistical, research, and reporting work, analyze statistical problems, and develop appropriate work methods
- Ability to represent the agency at meetings or hearings
- Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with department/agency staff and with representatives of other public and private agencies
- Ability to develop reports showing economic trends, changes in employment, workforce distribution and demographics, industrial growth, or other similar measures of economic activity
- Ability to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units
- Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English sufficiently to perform duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication
- Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.
Note
The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.