The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD) manages the Commonwealth's workforce development and labor departments to ensure that workers, employers, and the unemployed have the tools and training needed to succeed in the Massachusetts economy.

Reporting to the Director of the Department of Economic Research (DER), a department of EOLWD, the Chief Economist is a senior leader responsible for providing agile and accurate workforce forecasts for policy makers in state government as well as workforce stakeholders. As the Department continues to expand its research and analytics capabilities, the Chief Economist will help with the increased demands for real-time and historical data insights into the state of the Commonwealth’s economy. This position will be particularly important to EOLWD’s re-employment mission, as it will manage how stakeholders can use evidence-based reporting, industry projections, and economic analyses to guide workers and employers to adapt to a post-pandemic economy.

To capitalize on some of the most useful demographic data tools and data sources in Massachusetts, the incumbent will understand socioeconomic factors and demonstrate an intellectual curiosity to bring key insights about economic inequality in the Commonwealth.

This position may require a high amount of interactivity with staff outside EOLWD requiring economic data insights, including the Governor’s office, the Workforce Skills Cabinet, and the secretariats of Education, Housing and Economic Development, and Administration and Finance secretariat – a super user of Economic Research managed data.

The role will also at times partner with staff from the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development’s Department of Career Services as well as academic and research institutions to provide economic insights at the state and substate level to help with re-employment due to the effects of COVID-19 unemployment as well as the effects of automations in the workforce.

The role will also, at times, partner with staff from the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development’s Department of Career Services to use economic insights and research to identify structural barriers to employment. The incumbent will provide economic research and analyses to these organizations to develop interventions to address or mitigate these effects, especially for disadvantaged workers, members of historically marginalized groups, and people alienated or displaced from the labor force because of COVID-19, automation, or other long-term economic trends.

The incumbent in this position will:

• Works with a team of junior economists in the regional economic research strategy and production of meaningful research and analytical projects for DER
• Supervise Chief Economist staff members and manage their day-to-day work, ensuring accuracy of analyses and a degree of excellence in products and deliverables
• Provide intellectual leadership on applied research and policy development. Lead high-quality and relevant economics research, providing forward-looking economic policy advice related to strengthening Massachusetts's economy.
• Participates in building the analytical and research capacities of the department through hiring, mentorship, and training of junior staff members and collaborates with external ‘multipliers’ as appropriate. Conduct research and analysis on labor markets, as well as other key economic variables to determine trends affecting the state economy. Provide forward-looking analysis and identify state economic trends to help Massachusetts advance high-quality policy support on local, national, regional, and global economic concerns.
• Communicate complex economic and statistical information to lay audiences in relevant terms based on business, policy, programmatic and societal needs.
• Collaborate with key external partners, including the Governor's Office, state and federal legislators, and state and federal agencies. Present work products to both internal and external customers (including agency leadership, legislators, the Governor's Office and the media), in oral, written and electronic formats.
• Provide forward-looking analysis and identify state economic trends to help Massachusetts advance high-quality policy support on local, national, regional and global economic concerns.
• Strengthen Massachusetts's contribution to economic development policy debates of strategic relevance to the state's economy and thereby inform EOLWD executive leadership on key national and statewide forums.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's Degree or higher in Economics, Public Finance, or closely allied field preferred, although a Master’s degree in the same fields or exemplary and relevant work experience may be considered in place of a PhD.
• Five to seven years of experience as a professional economist, serving in a management or lead role, with experience in the formulation and implementation of labor market information program and projects in either public or private sectors.
• Proven intellectual leadership in economic and statistical methods and a demonstrated understanding of relevant information dissemination approaches.
• Ability to apply rigorous analytics, undertake, oversee, and guide research and analyze economic development issues within the broader framework of global economic analysis and labor market information.
• Demonstrated clear and convincing communicator of ideas in writing and in person, and ability to defend and explain difficult and complex issues with respect to key decisions and positions.
• A demonstrated record of publications for professional economic and lay audiences.

About the Department of Economic Research

The Department of Economic Research (DER) is an energetic and cross-collaborative department within the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development that is dedicated to economic data collection, job forecasting, and applied research. In addition to producing, analyzing, and distributing longitudinal data sets in agreement with the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the DER team also produces economic data insights and visualization products to support informed programmatic and fiduciary policy decisions across the Commonwealth. Data and insights produced by the DER cover many topics and include but are not limited to:

• Labor force participation and demographics
• Employment and unemployment
• Salary and wages
• Occupations and industries
• Employees and businesses

The DER team also promotes the use of Massachusetts labor market information on such topics as the role and impact of emerging technologies, changes in the structure of the workplace, and the cost of living relative to the availability of employment opportunities in geographic areas. The economic information produced by DER is utilized by government figures and organizations to inform policymaking, but also within academia, large and small businesses, advocacy groups, as well as individuals seeking career advancement. The DER is currently expanding its research and analytics capabilities to meet the increased demands for timely, high-quality insights into the state of the Massachusetts economy.

About the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development

The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD) manages the Commonwealth's workforce development and labor departments to ensure that workers, employers, and the unemployed have the tools and training needed to succeed in the Massachusetts economy. EOLWD and its agencies are committed to developing a world-class, highly skilled labor force to support business growth and innovation in the Commonwealth. EOLWD oversees the Departments of Economic Research, Unemployment Assistance, Career Services, Labor Standards, Industrial Accidents, Labor Relations, Family and Medical Leave, as well as the Division of Apprentice Standards, Council on the Underground Economy, and the quasi-public agency, the Commonwealth Corporation.

SALARY PLACEMENT IS DETERMINED BY YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE POSITION AND THE HUMAN RESOURCES DIVISION’S RECRUITING GUIDELINES.

Comprehensive Benefits

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