Candidates interested in applying for an economist position should send curriculum vita and one recent research paper, and arrange for three letters of reference to be sent by e-mail to Lil Shewmaker at: EconomistRecruiting@frb.gov.
The diverse responsibilities of the divisions require people with varied skills and interests. At the entry level, new Ph.D.s should have a strong grounding in economic theory and quantitative methods; specialized course work or research in an area closely related to the divisions’ areas of ac tivity is desirable. Enthusiasm about applying one’s knowledge to real-world issues and an ability to communicate clearly both orally and in writing are important, as are personal energy, initiative, and collegiality.
Economists in the Division of Consumer and Community Affairs work with the Board Members and staff at the Federal Reserve Banks to examine consumer policy and economic development issues.
The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System regularly hires research assistants who apply quantitative skills both to real-world policy issues and to high-level research projects.
Typically, research assistants work at the Board for about two years before going on to graduate programs or careers in economics, business, or related disciplines.
Research assistants are employed in five of the Board's divisions. Follow the links below for job qualifications in the various divisions and the procedures for submitting an application:
Our brochure, Open Doors to a Bright Future: Research Assistant Positions at the Federal Reserve Board, Washington, D.C. (4.53 MB PDF), tells you more about the Federal Reserve and its mission, and discusses the great opportunities and benefits of being a research assistant at the Board.
