LABOUR MARKET INFORMATION
Understanding LMI
What is LMI and Why Is it important?
“It is vital, in an environment where new industries
are emerging and many of the most important jobs of
the future don’t yet exist, that individuals have access
to high quality labour market information and
earnings data to underpin their choices”.
Anne Milton MP
LMI stands for Labour Market Information. In short, it refers to any relevant information about the current state of the jobs market. It is there to arm you with all the data you need to make informed choices about your career. LMI can include information like:
- The industries and businesses that operate in a certain location.
- The types of jobs that exist and what they involve.
- How many of those jobs there are in industry sectors.
- The skills that are currently or will be in high demand.
- Commute and travel to work patterns.
- Typical rates of pay.
- Career progression opportunities.
LMI can be both quantitative (related to numbers and statistics), and qualitative (information and phenomena that can be observed but not
measured). Qualitative LMI is usually based on studies and on data such as the Census, while qualitative LMI is based on interviews, anecdotes, press reports, networks, and so on.
Why Is LMI Useful?
The world of work is complex, even for those who have had long professional careers. Many people feel that they fell into their career 'by accident' or had to take the available opportunities rather than follow their passions. LMI helps to demystify the jobs market. It helps to take the confusion out of
career planning, job hunting, career progression, and changing career. When people have accurate and up to date information, they are better equipped to make an informed choice and to plan appropriately. In other words, robust LMI makes navigating the world of work easier for
everyone.
Careers and work-related learning
Students at Gordon’s School can expect a wide variety of activities to enhance their Careers and Work Related Education. There are regular careers talks, appointments with our independent Careers Adviser, CV workshops, careers fairs and many other activities. Careers education starts in Year 7, and continues until students leave us in Year 13.
To find out which career best suits individual personalities and learning environment preferences, students are supported to complete the skills and interests quizzes on their Unifrog profiles: Access Unifrog here...
Once they have found career options they would like to know more about, Unifrog has excellent resources to support further investigation matching skills and interests in a personalised way. This includes up to date LMI by sector.
Skills assessment, and careers and pathways exploration is also available through the Government's National Careers Service. Click on the image below to access:
LMI Information and Links
Understanding job opportunities in the local area is important for students. It shows which industries are growing in this area and not just nationally, what skills local employers need, and which qualifications lead to real jobs nearby. By paying attention to local LMI, students can make smarter choices about subjects, training, and work experience that match the opportunities on their doorstep, giving them a clearer, more realistic pathway into employment.
The following helpful links support local LMI exploration:
The Local Skills dashboard provides published local data from a variety of sources in an easy to navigate format. To support local skills planning, the dashboard covers topics such as employment, qualifications, and education outcomes across England.
Data is available to view and download for various geographies, including: local authority (LA), local skills improvement plan (LSIP) area, Combined Authority (CA) and national.
This dashboard is produced by Skills England, a body that brings together key partners to meet the skills needs of the next decade across all regions. For more information on Skills England's aims and our work, visit the webpage.
EDT Futures is the careers and employability division of Education Development Trust, a UK education charity. It provides guidance, training, and support to help young people and adults choose career pathways, develop skills, and move into education, training, or employment. Their work includes careers advice, employability coaching, skills programmes, and support for those who are unemployed or need extra help.
You can find out more via their website and read the latest LMI bulletins below: