Economist

APS 5 - $76,260 - $83,658 per annum plus superannuation
- ABARES Division
- Canberra, ACT
- _ABARES requires high quality economists to conduct analysis of issues affecting Australian agriculture, with a focus on informing government policy. _
- _As an economist, you will be able to undertake analysis and report results to a range of audiences. You will also be able to provide advice built on data and evidence and have a strong team-oriented attitude._

**Who we are**
The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) provides economic analysis, data and research to inform policy and decision-making in Australia’s agriculture, fisheries and forestry sectors. ABARES has capabilities in the fields of economics, science, and social science. Issues we are currently engaged with include understanding the drivers of agricultural output, climate change, biosecurity, trade and sustainability. Our mission is to develop an inclusive, collaborative and innovative culture as we produce high quality analysis and research on current and emerging issues. ABARES has four economic research programs.

Agricultural Forecasts and Policy: the home of ABARES’ quarterly Agricultural Commodities publication analysing current and projected production, international prices and exports of agricultural commodities. This publication is used across Government and by a range of private sector stakeholders. The Program also performs a broad range of proactive research on current and emerging short to medium term issues in domestic and global commodities markets and supports policy development through rigorous analysis of economic trends in agricultural commodities.

Trade and Global Change: making a difference to the global trade, food security, climate and development landscape, the Program provides advice that informs global debate and Australian government policy. Our work addresses medium to longer term issues, including climate, sustainability and agricultural trade; trade barriers and facilitation; future international market opportunities; and advancing trade negotiations.

Farm Data and Analysis: the home of ABARES farm surveys, analysis, and farm research, including productivity estimation and modelling climate change impacts. The Program has a strong focus on farm data collection and analysis, holds key national datasets on farm performance, and works collaboratively with other government and research agencies to deliver our information products.

Natural Resource Economics: has responsibility across the topics of water markets in the southern Murray Darling Basin, fisheries and forestry economics and on-farm natural resources, investigating the link between natural capital and farm performance. Our in-house models are the ABARES Water Trade Model, the Forest Resource Use Model and the ABARES FarmPredict model.

**SEE BRANCH/STREAM**

**The Job**
Roles are available in the following streams:

- Economic analysis and advice - support evidence-based policy advice through analysis of commodity markets, international trade issues, data and policy
- Forecasting - analysing data and domestic and international market conditions to produce quarterly updates of agricultural output projections
- Data and survey analysis - use survey and other datasets to produce research and data products that inform policy and industry decision making
- Modelling - quantify and investigate impacts of policy and other shocks at region and industry level using economic and econometric models

**Skills and capabilities**
- strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to work productively in teams, engage with strategic networks and represent ABARES effectively
- strong written, verbal and visual communication skills
- highly motivated, productive and able to work accurately with a high level of attention to detail.

**Knowledge and experience**
- ability to gather and analyse data from diverse sources to support economic analysis of markets and policy, and to support others in undertaking similar projects
- ability to interpret and communicate economic analysis effectively, both verbally and in writing, and support others to do the same
- a high degree of personal integrity including an ability to challenge issues constructively, and to acknowledge mistakes and learn from them
- ability to exercise good judgement.

**Eligibility**
Mandatory qualifications

Bachelor degree or higher in economics or other relevant discipline such as mathematics, statistics or computer science.