ECONOMIST

ARIZONA OFFICE OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY (OEO) is committed to advancing Arizona’s workforce and fostering opportunities for well‑paying jobs, in line with Governor Hobbs’s vision. Collaborating with state, federal, local, tribal, educational, business, labor, and community partners, OEO serves as the state’s workforce planning coordinator, conducts economic and demographic research, and provides employment and demographic analysis.

OEO also supports the Arizona Finance Authority (AFA), ensuring streamlined financing for businesses, community infrastructure, and first‑time home buyers. AFA prioritizes delivering affordable financing swiftly, serving as a one‑stop resource for various financial needs to promote Arizona’s growth and development.

Job Location:

1400 West Washington Street Phoenix, AZ 85007. Posting Details:
Salary: $55,000 - $65,000. Grade: 20. This position will remain open until business needs are met.

The Economist II will conduct rigorous analysis of employment trends, wages, and demographic shifts to produce the monthly employment report, while also providing critical insights to education and economic development partners to ensure state programs meet statutory value‑added earnings thresholds.

This position will serve as the primary analyst helping to support the data needs of the Governor’s Workforce Cabinet, directly supporting the Talent Ready AZ initiative. In this role, the incumbent will also lead efforts to align state workforce strategies with high‑demand industry needs, specifically by developing and validating Labor Market Information (LMI) required for Workforce Pell eligibility.

To modernize the state’s data infrastructure, the Economist II will champion the integration of AI tools to automate legacy reporting processes and streamline data pipeline updates. This includes designing and deploying website API capabilities to expand public data accessibility and supporting AI risk analysis. By leveraging advanced scripting and automation, the role will minimize manual data entry for agency reviews and UI claims requests, allowing for a deeper focus on macro‑level trend analysis and the continuous improvement of the state’s Integrated Data System.

This position may offer the ability to work remotely, within Arizona, based upon the department’s business needs and continual meeting of expected performance measures.

• The Economist II will conduct rigorous analysis of employment trends, wages, and demographic shifts to produce the monthly employment report, while also providing critical insights to education and economic development partners to ensure state programs meet statutory value‑added earnings thresholds.
• In this role, the incumbent will also lead efforts to align state workforce strategies with high‑demand industry needs, specifically by developing and validating Labor Market Information (LMI) required for Workforce Pell eligibility.
• Updating and communicating the Cabinet’s strategic metric goals while providing technical assistance to partner state agencies to enhance their workforce data collection and analytical capabilities.
• The Economist II will serve as the primary analyst, helping to support the data needs of the Governor’s Workforce Cabinet, directly supporting the Talent Ready AZ initiative.
• The Economist II will champion the integration of AI tools to automate legacy reporting processes and streamline data pipeline updates.
• Maintains and updates data files, charts, and tables for various information products in a timely and accurate manner.
• Assists OEO Labor Systems and Workforce teams with project deliverables as needed.

• Knowledge of:
  • Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)–related initiatives, Workforce Pell eligibility requirements, and statutory value‑added earnings thresholds.
  • Labor market information (LMI) systems, employment and wage data, and workforce analytics used in state and federal workforce programs.
  • Data governance, performance metrics, and reporting requirements supporting executive‑level workforce strategy and policy development.
• Skill in:
  • Strong analytical skills to evaluate…