Economist (Wages)

Introduction

The position is located in the Inclusive Labour Markets, Labour Relations and Working Conditions Department(INWORK) within the Conditions of Work and Equality Branch (WORKQUALITY). INWORK aims to improve the working conditions and protection of workers through effective policies while contributing to achieving an inclusive labour market, which provides adequate wages and access to quality employment for all. In addition to wages and incomes, the Branch is in charge of labour relations and collective bargaining; working time and work organization; contractual arrangements, employment protection (economic dimension), digital platforms and data privacy. INWORK also leads two transversal policy areas in the Office: formalization of the informal economy and decent work for domestic workers.

The position is part of a global team working on wages and incomes, and its main task is to contribute to the production of the Global Wage Report, a flagship report of the ILO published in multiple languages every two years since 2008. 

The position will report to the Senior Economist who leads the Wages Group of INWORK, under the overall responsibility of the Chief of INWORK.
 

Specific Duties

1.    Contribute to the preparation of the outline of the Global Wage Report and prepare all necessary information to be submitted to the ILO Publishing Committee, including production schedules, communication strategy and dissemination activities.   

2.    Identify national data sources to be used in the Global Wage Report, undertake agreed quantitative and/or qualitative analysis for the report, and prepare drafts of different sections of the report as well as for related products, such as regional fact sheets. 

3.    Serve as INWORK’s focal point on the Global Wage Report to ILO’s concerned units, including the ILO Publications Production Unit, and ensure that the report is edited and translated in multiple languages in a timely manner.

4.    Organize internal and external meetings and consultations on the Global Wage Report, including with ILO wage experts in different regions of the world, and organize peer reviews of different sections or methodologies, as necessary.     

5.    In collaboration with the Department of Communication and Public Information, provide inputs to the development of a dissemination and media strategy, and assist in the development of content to support the promotion of the Global Wage Report, such as Infostories, blog pieces, or videos.    

6.    Participate in the dissemination of the Global Wage Report, including through specific events, training seminars and workshops to present and facilitate the understanding of the findings of the report to ILO constituents, academics and other decision makers in different countries and regions across the world. 

7.    Contribute, as requested, to other activities of the Branch related to wages and incomes, for example, knowledge development or training activities. 

8.    Provide selected technical backstopping for ILO field offices and senior wage specialists, on the determination of wages and wage policies. 

9.    Perform other relevant duties as assigned.

These specific duties are aligned with the relevant ILO generic job description, which includes the following generic duties:

Generic Duties

1. Undertake research and prepare analytical reports on selected subjects within the area of technical competence.
2. Assess country experience (on selected topics) with a view to identifying best practices in finding solutions to problems identified.
3. Provide technical inputs (articles, reports) for regional, country or related sectoral analyses, ILO reports and publications.
4. Provide technical backstopping, project implementation and monitoring.
5. Undertake missions for the purpose of providing technical recommendations on selected topics following ILO established guidelines, manuals and standards.
6. Monitor and coordinate research carried out by external collaborators.
7. Act as focal point on a specific field of specialization.
8. Participate in training seminars and workshops as resource person.
9. Represent the technical unit at international, regional and national fora.

Required qualifications

Education

Advanced university degree in economics.

Experience

Three years’ experience at the national level and two years at the international level in wages and related fields.

Languages

Excellent command of one official language (English, French, Spanish) of the Organization. Working knowledge of another official language would be an advantage.

Competencies

In addition to the ILO core competencies, this position requires:

Technical

Sound knowledge of wage policies and issues, and conversant with up-to-date literature on wages, including minimum wages, wages set through collective bargaining, wage inequality and gender pay gaps. Ability to analyse the links between wages, incomes, working conditions, employment and the particular situation of disadvantaged or vulnerable groups.  Ability to understand and elaborate on ongoing policy debates on the role of wages in a human-centred recovery from the COVID-19 economic and labour market crisis. Ability to carry out complex quantitative research techniques and analyse large data sets with existing software programmes (preferably STATA). Excellent writing skills, ability to produce high quality reports with attention to details, and synthetize and communicate research results to a variety of audiences both specialized and non-specialized.

Behavioural

​​​​​​​Ability to work under tight deadlines, and to plan and carry out work according to established schedules. Inter-personal skills, team player and capacity to liaise and cooperate with other members of the team and field offices. Ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviour and attitudes.