Welsh Government
Government Statistical Services
(GSS)
Michelle Morgan
Overview
• Government Statistical Services (GSS)
• GSS recruitment schemes
• Restraints on graduate employment opportunities
• Implications on graduate employment opportunities
• Graduate Employability Skills
• Questions?
What is the Government Statistical Service (GSS)?
The Government Statistical Service (GSS) is a decentralised
professional community spread across most UK government
departments and devolved administrations.
The GSS is the UK’s largest producer of statistics, providing
trusted, authoritative information, making valued input into every
major government activity and informing decision makers in all
sectors of our society.
The GSS provides great opportunities to network, provides useful
training, and also acts as a sort of ‘pass’ to move between
organisations.
GSS Recruitment Schemes
There are 2 ways to join the GSS as a professional
Government Statistician:
•
Fast Stream intake – Assistant Statistician (AS):
The last application window for this scheme closed in April 2012. The next window
will open in September 2012.
•
Main intake – Statistical Officers (StO):
GSS currently advertised for Temporary Statistical Officers in Welsh Government.
We expect to run further rounds later in the year, but this is not guaranteed.
Differences between the schemes:
The AS route is the statistical entry to the analytical strand of the
Civil Service Fast Stream scheme. It’s an accelerated
development programme for graduates preparing themselves for
careers at the highest levels of the Civil Service.
The StO route is the main intake for Government Statisticians.
Recruitment stages:
Fast stream:
Main stream:
1.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
1. Complete the application form
Registration
Practice online tests
Online tests
E-Application Form
Application form sift*
Statistical Assessment Centre (1
day in London)*
8. Fast Stream Assessment Centre (1
day in London)*
9. Allocation to department
*Please be aware that your
invitation to these stages of the
selection process depends on
passing the preceding stage.
2. Application form sift
3. The StO board (held in Newport)
4. Allocation into a department
Requirements:
To apply for either stream, candidates should already have, or
hope to obtain this academic year, a minimum 2.1 honours degree
(2.2 honours degree for the main stream route) in a discipline
containing formal training in statistical theory and methods.
Subjects such as:
•
•
•
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•
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Statistics
Mathematics
Economics
Sciences
Business studies
Psychology
Sociology
What competencies do we look for?
Fast stream:
Main stream:
•
Driving for results
•
Collection of data
•
Learning and improving
•
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Constructive thinking
Analysis and interpretation of
data
•
Decision-making
•
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Building productive relationships
Ability to communicate,
particularly statistical or
technical ideas
•
Communicating with impact
•
Ability to deliver results
•
Dissemination
•
Team working skills
•
Analysis and interpretation of
data
•
Personal effectiveness
•
Collection of data
•
Professional statistical
knowledge
On the application forms candidates will be expected to
describe their knowledge and experience in several of the
following statistical skills:
•
Analysis of Variance
•
Index numbers
•
Linear / multiple regression
•
Modelling and forecasting
•
Multivariate analysis
•
Time series
•
Data collection
•
Sampling
Restraints on graduate employment
opportunities:
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StO recruitment freeze
Fast stream recruitment scheme
Summer placements
Student placements
Career Fairs
Implications on graduate employment
opportunities:
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Shortage of fast streamers in WG
Unable to apply to become a permanent StO
More competition for student placements
Companies limited to resources
Graduate Employability
Skills
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Academia achievement
Student Work Placement
Work Experience/ Volunteering Work
Sporting Achievements
Grammar in Application Forms / CV / Covering
Letters
• Body Language/ Attitude
Contacts
For any further queries or questions, please visit our website or send us an
e-mail:
Visit: www.wales.gov.uk/statistics
Visit: www.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/national-statistician/government-statistical-service
E-mail: SDcareers@wales.gsi.gov.uk
Questions?