Using Real-Time Labor Market Information on a Nationwide Scale

“Jobs for the Future’s Credentials That Work initiative tested and evaluated the use of real-time LMI [labor market information] to better align postsecondary education and training programs with current labor market demand, particularly at the community college level. While the initiative focused on the uses of real-time LMI in local labor markets, it also sought to understand the potential value of this data source to organizations with missions that are nationwide in scope, particularly federal agencies and national industry trade associations. This brief examined the potential and limitations of real-time LMI for federal agencies and national trade associations” (p. iv). (Abstractor: Author)

“[This brief] found that real-time LMI offers potential benefits for five activities conducted by [federal agencies and national trade associations]: labor market research, preparing occupational profiles, statistical modeling, managing grant programs, and delivering constituent services. In the small number of industries that have well-defined, widely accepted career ladders built on earning certifications in specific competencies, there appears to be less opportunity for real-time LMI to guide postsecondary education and training program development. While it is clear that real-time LMI has the potential to be of significant value to both federal agencies and national trade associations, several barriers must be overcome: • Federal agencies and national associations need education about how real-time LMI can help them achieve their mission. • The real-time LMI industry must demonstrate improvements in the reliability of its information and provide analysts with measures of that reliability. • Federal agencies need congressional appropriations that allow them to subscribe to real-time LMI services” (p. iv). (Abstractor: Author and Website Staff)

• Last Updated:
• Created:
• Resource Publication Date: 2013
• Author(s): Reamer, Andrew
• Organizational Author(s): Jobs for the Future
• Funding Source: Joyce Foundation, Lumina Foundation
• Resource Availability: Publicly available
• Posted by: Wesley Peterson
• Posted in: Workforce System Strategies