Action Brief - Finding and Using Labor Market Information for Economic and Workforce Development

ActionBrief

Finding and Using Labor Market Information for Economic and Workforce Development

County Business Patterns, Bureau of the Census: This data also provides a great deal of industry and geographic detail (down to the zip code level). Available on CD-ROM by calling (301) 457-4100.

Current Employment Statistics (BLS-790), BLS and State LMI agencies, and Regional Economic Information System (REIS) employment data, Bureau of Economic Analysis: Neither of these data sources provides the same level of industry detail and the CES is broken down only by state and metropolitan area.

Occupational Structure of the Region and by Industry: Since WIBs are in the business of matching people and jobs—and of preparing people for jobs—they want to know more than which industries are hiring and which are not. WIBs also want to know in detail what kinds of jobs each industry offers. The best data sources to obtain this information are:

Occupational Employment Statistics, BLS provides a full picture of the occupational structure of each industry by state and metro area. OES is available from each state's LMI agency or on-line at: http://www.bls.gov/oes/oes_data.htm.

Earnings by Industry and Occupation: All industries and all occupations are not the same in terms of the contribution they make to the welfare of a region. In general, WIBs want to target industries that pay decent wages. How do you know what each industry pays? The best data source for this information is again the Occupational Employment Statistics series from the BLS. If you want an overview look of average weekly pay by industry the ES-202 data discussed earlier can provide this information.

d. Who should develop this economic map for the WIB? Around the country there are a few WIBs that are big enough and have sufficient resources to do this kind of economic mapping themselves. NOVA PIC in California's Santa Clara County has done some amazingly sophisticated economic analysis of its region. But most WIBs are simply too small to mount such an effort. WIB staff can tackle some pieces of the overall project, but for much of it, they would do better to hire expert help, either on their own for a relatively modest project or by joining together with other WIBs and/or with the state.

B. Step Two: Using the Data to Develop Strategies and Products
Once the WIB has sketched a basic economic map of its region, it is ready to go to the next step using what it has learned to develop service delivery strategies, economic development strategies, and informational products tailored to the needs of its residents and businesses. As it develops these strategies and products, the WIB will find that it needs additional kinds of labor market information.