Principal Economist

Communities & Skills is collaborative, open, inclusive and fair - we work with and through partners to ensure Londoners can shape healthy, empowered and productive lives. The Insights Team, established in 2020, is a specialist economics team that supports policy development and programme delivery across the Skills and Employment (S&E) Unit. The team has built a strong reputation for delivering high-quality evidence, analysis and research that informs decision-making across the GLA’s skills and employment agenda.

The Principal Economist provides expert economic analysis and evidence to support the development, delivery and evaluation of a wide range of skills and employment policies and programmes led by the Greater London Authority (GLA), including the Adult Skills Fund (ASF), Skills Bootcamps and Connect to Work. The role is responsible for ensuring that policy and programme delivery are informed by robust analysis, high-quality evidence and a strong understanding of London’s skills system, labour market and wider economic challenges.

What your day will look like:

• Provide high quality economic information, analysis and advice to inform the GLA’s skills and employment strategy and policy development.
• Lead on research projects and initiatives commissioned by the GLA.
• Analyse complex datasets to support evidence-based policymaking and programme delivery.
• Help the GLA identify and articulate its requirements for economic and statistical data.
• Contribute to the development of a more open, accessible and evidence-driven approach to data.
• Help maintain the GLA’s position as a trusted and authoritative source of data, evidence and analysis.
• Be responsible for managing staff and resources allocated to the role.

Skills, knowledge and experience:

• A degree or professional qualification in economics or a related subject, preferably to post‑graduate level.
• Successful track record of conducting research and/or complex analysis to inform policy and strategy development.
• Strong evidence of computer literacy including proficiency in using project management, spreadsheet, database and presentation software.
• Demonstrated capacity to use specialised statistical software packages for statistical and econometric analysis.
• Experience of managing staff and resources, providing effective leadership and support to teams.
• Evidence of clear personal, verbal and written communication skills.
• Broad knowledge about labour markets and education policy in London.

Equality, diversity and inclusion: London’s diversity is its biggest asset, and we strive to ensure our workforce reflects London’s diversity at all levels. We welcome applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, gender identity, gender expression, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith or disability.

GLA staff are hybrid working up to 3 days a week in our offices and remotely depending on their role. In addition to a good salary package, you will be paid every four weeks, providing frequent salary payments. We also offer an attractive range of benefits including 30 days’ annual leave, interest free season ticket loan, interest free bicycle loan and a career average pension scheme.