Applications closed
Thank you to everyone who applied for the 2025 ABARES Graduate Program
Applications closed Wednesday 24 April 2024.
About the program
ABARES offers a 12-month entry level professional program for graduate economists, modellers, scientists and statisticians.
“Coming straight from uni, settling into full-time work and a new city can be intimidating. But my team at ABARES made it seamless.
My maths and statistics background made me value rigor in research, so I’ve really enjoyed the responsibility to contribute to ABARES’ highly-regarded analytical work during my grad program”
– Vincent Minutolo, Statistician, 2021 graduate
From day one, you’ll be surrounded by the best in the business at what we do. We’ll introduce you to the Australian Public Service (APS) and show you how we work with policy makers and industry to realise industry goals.
As a graduate at ABARES, you will:
- work as part of a team in a dynamic and collaborative research environment
- work with, and learn from, experts in their field
- extend your skills and knowledge through a range of formal and on-the-job training activities designed to guide your career and provide you with the tools to develop as a valuable member of the ABARES team
- participate in ABARES seminars and conferences, including National and Regional Outlooks across the country
- present your work within the department and externally
- author highly regarded and anticipated research publications
Read the essential guide to live and work at ABARES (PDF 876 KB).
If you have difficulty accessing this file, contact the ABARES team for assistance.
Successful candidates usually start in February the following year, but our flexible working policy allows you to start earlier if preferred.
What degree do I need?
Our graduates generally have one or more of the following degrees:
- Economics/commerce/econometrics
- Science – fisheries, forestry, social or land sciences
- Mathematics
- Statistics
- Data science
Graduates with other degrees with applicable skills can also join our ranks. Drop us a line to discuss relevant skills and opportunities for your discipline.
Salary and conditions
We offer rewarding working conditions and excellent remuneration.
Graduates commence at the APS3 level (including 15.4% super) and generally progress to APS4 part way through the program. On successful completion of the program graduates will be advanced to APS5.
For the most up to date details on APS salary and conditions, visit the Department’s Salary and Conditions page.
We are committed to fostering a diverse and flexible workplace that values differences, supports inclusiveness and encourages all employees regardless of gender, cultural background, disability, sexual orientation or caring responsibilities, to achieve their potential.
Eligibility requirements
Graduates must be Australian citizens and be able to hold an Australian security clearance.
Pending citizen applications may be considered but no offer is possible until citizenship is achieved.
Program location
The ABARES graduate program is based in the nation’s capital, Canberra.
Graduates will enjoy the comradery with the Bureau and other APS graduates as they embark on their career and take advantage of new personal, professional, and social opportunities.
Learn more about living in Canberra.
Meet ABARES graduates
Hear from some of our economists who started as ABARES graduates, learn about potential career paths and look behind the scenes at the day in the life of an ABARES economist.