Postdoctoral researcher in Economics
Ref no: ORU 2.1.1-01749/2026
We are looking for a postdoctoral researcher in economics for a two-year position at the School of Business at Örebro University. The position is focused on empirical research on the effects of artificial intelligence (AI) on productivity and labour markets, combining micro-level causal inference with structural economic modelling.
Subject area
The subject area for this position is economics.
Fields of specialization: Labour Economics – AI and the Economy; Econometrics – Structural and Applied Microeconometrics
Background
For a research project within the Swedish research cluster "AI, Structural Change and the Future of Work" (AISCAF), we are looking for a postdoctoral researcher. The project studies AI's effects on productivity, work organisation, and labour market outcomes, combining causal inference with economic modelling. We use novel and comprehensive micro-level data, including administrative registers and alternative data sources such as digital platform data.
The position is at the cluster node at Örebro University, specifically at the university's research environment "Economics and Statistics" (E&S). E&S is a dynamic environment for research in economics and statistics, with links to computer science. The environment consists of approximately 35 researchers. Research includes, for example, the areas of labour markets, wellbeing and welfare, macro-financing, globalisation and econometrics.
The position is specifically at the AI-Econ Lab at Örebro University (https://www.ai-econlab.com) – an international and interdisciplinary research lab that focuses on the structural transformation of organisations and work related to AI. The research is mainly empirical and benefits from rich data sources, including high-quality linked employer-employee administrative registers, own surveys, and new sources of data. The researchers are often consulted as experts by government, other organisations and media, and actively cooperate with society. The lab is linked to Örebro University's major investment in both interdisciplinary and core research in AI, for example at the Center for AI, Robotics, and Cybersecurity (ARC), the AI Impact Lab, which is one of the nodes of the Swedish national AI center, and at the reputable Center for Applied Autonomous Sensor Systems (AASS).
Duties and responsibilities
The appointment as a postdoctoral researcher is intended to enable persons who have recently been awarded their doctoral degree to consolidate and develop primarily their research skills. The research will be pursued within the interdisciplinary research cluster “AI, Structural Change and the Future of Work” (AISCAF), which is funded by WASP-HS.
The Wallenberg AI, Autonomous Systems and Software Program – Humanity and Society (WASP-HS) is a national research program in Sweden. The vision of WASP-HS is to foster novel interdisciplinary knowledge in the humanities and social sciences about AI and autonomous systems and their impact on human and social development. WASP-HS enables cutting edge research, expertise, and competence building in the humanities and social sciences.
The interdisciplinary research cluster AISCAF connects researchers at Uppsala, Mälardalen, Stockholm and Örebro universities, as well as KTH. The researchers are economists, business economists and sociologists. The programme conducts empirical studies of how the labour market is changing with AI and other technological innovations. The studies analyse both how employees are affected by the automation of some of their tasks and how they are affected when various recruitment and HR functions become AI-based. In addition, it studies how the entry of AI changes how we should design different forms of training and transition functions in society. The programme currently includes senior researchers, doctoral students, and postdoctoral researchers. As a postdoctoral researcher, you will be part of the interdisciplinary research group.
The duties involve the full research process: exploiting novel data sources, designing and conducting quantitative analyses of AI's microeconomic effects using both structural and reduced-form methods, and writing or co-authoring manuscripts for high-quality scientific journals. The duties include working both independently and in collaboration with the responsible project manager and cluster node leader, as well as with other researchers in the cluster. You are also expected to actively contribute to the research environment at the lab. The position does not include teaching obligations.
Qualifications
Those qualified for appointment as a postdoctoral researcher are applicants who, at the time of appointment, hold a doctoral degree or have a degree from abroad deemed to correspond to a doctoral degree. Applicants with doctoral degrees that have been awarded no more than three years prior to the application deadline are to be considered first. The applicant may not previously have held a position as a postdoctoral researcher for more than one year in the same subject and at the same higher education institution. The position is for a term of at least two years initially but may be extended for a further year. If the person during the period of employment has been on parental leave, the period of employment is to be extended by the corresponding number of days. The period of employment may also be extended in the event of absence due to illness.
Assessment criteria
A basis for the assessment is the applicant’s ability to disseminate information and communicate; collaborate and engage with the wider community; and facilitate utilisation of the university’s research; as well as the ability and suitability to cooperate with other members of staff and contribute to the development of university operations.
Particular attention is to be paid to the applicant’s prospects of contributing to the future development of both research and education. Importance is also attached to a demonstrated ability and ambition to embark on a career within academia.
Other assessment criteria
We are looking for a candidate who, in addition to a doctoral degree, has demonstrated ability to conduct both structural and reduced-form empirical research with large datasets. This includes strong programming skills in Python and experience with at least one additional language used for structural estimation or numerical computing (such as Julia or Matlab). Your background should be in labour economics with a focus on AI's effects on productivity and the labour market, or in structural microeconometrics applied to labour market questions. Experience with administrative register data, novel digital data sources (such as platform data), and text-as-data methods is an advantage. Familiarity with Swedish or Nordic institutional settings is a merit.
You should also have and demonstrate:
- Motivation to conduct internationally competitive research
- A strong mathematical background
- A track record of peer-reviewed publications or manuscripts under review at internationally recognised journals in labour economics, the economics of AI, or structural microeconometrics
- A strong interest and potential in the project's research area
- Excellent ability to conduct empirical research
- Excellent programming and data management skills
- Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.
We also place emphasis on your personal qualities, your own scientific drive and curiosity, ability to work independently, in a structured way, and accurately within agreed time frames.
Information
This is a fixed-term full-time position for two years. The planned start is autumn 2026. At Örebro University, salary depends on the successful candidate’s qualifications and experience.
For more information about the position, contact associate professor Magnus Lodefalk, +46 722 21 73 40, email: magnus.lodefalk@oru.se.
At Örebro University, we expect each member of staff to be open to development and change; take responsibility for their work and performance; demonstrate a keen interest in collaboration and contribute to development; as well as to show respect for others by adopting a constructive and professional approach.
Örebro University actively pursues equal opportunities and gender equality as well as a work environment characterized by openness, trust and respect. We value the qualities that diversity adds to our operations.
Application
The application is made online. Click the button “Apply” to begin the application procedure.
For the application to be complete, the following electronic documents must be included:
- Cover letter, outlining why you are applying for the position and how you believe you can contribute to the project, cluster and the continued development of Örebro University
- CV with a relevant description of your overall qualifications and experience
- 3 letters of reference
- Account of research qualifications and experience
- Transcripts of grades for relevant course/degree certificates and references verifying eligibility and criteria met
- Relevant scientific publications, including a clearly labeled “job market paper” (maximum of 10 and in full-text format)
Only documents written in Swedish, English, Norwegian and Danish can be reviewed.
More information for applicants will be found at out career site: https://www.oru.se/english/working-at-orebro-university/jobs-and-vacancies/applicants-and-external-experts/
Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed online or at Örebro University.
The application deadline is March 31st, 2026. We look forward to receiving your application!
We decline any contact with advertisers or recruitment agencies in the recruitment process.
As directed by the National Archives of Sweden (Riksarkivet), we are required to deposit one file copy of the application documents, excluding publications, for a period of two years after the appointment decision has gained legal force.
