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1. Where has the LMI come from?
There is a wide range of Labour Market Information in the public domain. Some of it is excellent, but before you accept any data uncritically you should ask yourself what are the aims and objectives of the organisation who has produced the literature.
At the simplest level, a promotional job advert is unlikely to put anything other than the most positive gloss on a particular occupational role, whereas a disillusioned employee from the same organisation is likely to have a rather different view of what the vacancy might entail. Both viewpoints may have some grain of truth, but the wise applicant will spend some time sorting the rhetoric from the reality.
Be aware that some powerful lobbying organisations may have promotional rather than educational objectives, and governments may choose to put forward a particular perspective because of political imperatives.
There may be nothing wrong with this, but it could mean you might be wise decide to collect your data from more than one source to get a well-balanced view point
Who is making the claim?
Here are some examples of providers of LMI - together with a brief statement of their self-professed focus taken from their websites - you might like to think about how/if this might influence the type of LMI they make available.
For example, are they truly impartial, or do they perhaps represent only employers or disadvantaged groups or business interests or government agendas or campaigning organisations or self-interest or social justice or profit or individuals or trade unions ... the list goes on and on and on.
Remember, this is not to say that LMI arising from different perspectives is not useful, it may be incredibly helpful, but it is important to recognise different stakeholders may require LMI for different purposes and to make different arguments - no wonder it can be confusing!
- Learning and Skills Council
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From the Learning and Skills Council site:
Accessed Tuesday, 24 October 2006
The LSC exists to make England better skilled and more competitive. We have a single goal: to improve the skills of England's young people and adults to make sure we have a workforce that is of world-class standards.
We are responsible for planning and funding high-quality vocational education and training for everyone. Our vision is that by 2010, young people and adults in England have the knowledge and skills matching the best in the world and are part of a fiercely competitive workforce
- Sector Skills Development Agency (for Sector Skills Councils)
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From the Sector Skills Development Agency site:
Accessed Tuesday, 24 October 2006
Each SSC is an employer-led, independent organisation that covers a specific sector across the UK. The four key goals are:
- to reduce skills gaps and shortages
- improve productivity, business and public service performance
- increase opportunities to boost the skills and productivity of everyone in the sector's workforce
- improve learning supply including apprenticeships, higher education and National Occupational Standards (NOS).
- DfES Department for Education and Skills
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From the DfES Department for Education and Skills site:
Accessed Tuesday, 24 October 2006
The Department for Education and Skills was established with the purpose of creating opportunity, releasing potential and achieving excellence for all.
- DTI Department of Trade and Industry
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From the DTI Department of Trade and Industry site:
Accessed Tuesday, 24 October 2006
Working to create the conditions for business success and help the UK respond to the challenge of globalisation.
- CBI Confederation of British Industry
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From the CBI Confederation of British Industry site:
Accessed Tuesday, 24 October 2006
The CBI's mission is to help create and sustain the conditions in which businesses in the United Kingdom can compete and prosper for the benefit of all.
We are the premier lobbying organisation for UK business on national and international issues. We work with the UK government, international legislators and policy-makers to help UK businesses compete effectively.
- AGR Association of Graduate Recruiters
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From the AGR Association of Graduate Recruiters site:
Accessed Tuesday, 24 October 2006
Founded in 1968, AGR, the Association of Graduate Recruiters, is an independent, not-for-profit organisation dedicated to supporting employers in all aspects of graduate recruitment. We represent over 600 organisations that, between them, offer a high proportion of graduate opportunities in the UK. Our mission is: "To be the leading, independent voice of UK-based Graduate Recruiters, providing impartial, authoritative advice aimed at helping our members' businesses excel."
- IER - The Institute for Employment Research
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From the IER - Institute for Employment Research site:
Accessed Tuesday, 24 October 2006
The Institute for Employment Research is one of Europe's leading centres for research in the labour market field. Its work focuses upon the operation of labour markets and socio-economic processes related to employment and unemployment in the UK at national, regional and local levels. It includes comparative European research on employment and training.
- Association of Regional Observatories
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From the Association of Regional Observatories site:
Accessed Tuesday, 24 October 2006
The website of the Association of Regional Observatories is designed to serve as a portal to the work of the Regional Observatories in England. It provides access to information about the Observatories and details of the Association itself. It also offers an overview of the research agendas being pursued by the Observatories in each Region.
Regional Observatories and Regional Intelligence Groups have been established in the English regions by partnerships involving Regional Development Agencies, Government Offices, Regional Assemblies, and other bodies.
- Jobcentre Plus
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From the Jobcentre Plus site:
Accessed Tuesday, 24 October 2006
Jobcentre Plus is a government agency supporting people of working age from welfare into work, and helping employers to fill their vacancies. We are part of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and play a major role in supporting the Department's aim to 'promote opportunity and independence for all through modern, customer-focused services'.
Our key objectives are to:
- Increase the effective supply of labour by promoting work as the best form of welfare and helping unemployed and economically inactive people move into employment ...
- NOMIS
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From the NOMIS site:
Accessed Tuesday, 24 October 2006
Nomis gives you free access to the most detailed and most up-to-date UK labour market statistics from official sources. What you will find in Nomis:
- Labour market and related population data for local areas from a variety of sources including the Labour Force Survey (LFS), claimant count, Annual Business Inquiry (ABI), New Earnings Survey (NES), and the 1991 and 1981 Censuses of Population.
- Data from official government sources (mostly National Statistics).
- The latest published figures and time series data, in some cases back to the 1970s.
- What you will NOT find in Nomis:
- Statistics for themes unrelated to the labour market, such as health and the economy; detailed results from the 2001 Census. For these use the main National Statistics site.
- Data from non-government sources.
- Data prior to the 1970s.
- Neighbourhood Statistics
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From the Neighbourhood Statistics site:
Accessed Tuesday, 24 October 2006
This search allows you to find detailed statistics within specific geographic areas, for example in neighbourhood regeneration.
... allows you to find a summary report for your local neighbourhood. If you want to know more about the neighbourhood you live or work in use this search.
So who are you going to trust now?!
As a minimum think about:
- Where did the data come from?
- Who ran the survey?
- Who funded the research?
- Do they have an ulterior motive for reaching any particular conclusions?
Last cached: 2008-06-03 10:23 AM