WHAT IS GOOD LMI?

SCOTTISH LMI FRAMEWORK LAUNCH EVENT

Friday 9th March 2012

WHAT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT

1. Today we are all here for launch of Scottish LMI Framework

2. My aim is to talk about why LMI is important – but from a practical point of view

3. In broad terms, my experience of LMI is that • There is far too much of it• Only a small proportion of it finds a practical outlet• When you need some specific LMI, 9 times out of 10 it doesn't

exist!

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WHAT YOU SAY YOU NEED

1. Highlands and Islands Enterprise • Robust, timely and accessible sub-Scotland level data• Sectoral LMI (including Gaelic related)

2. Scottish Funding Council • Sufficient robust info about labour supply and projected demand

in wider region served by colleges and universities• Above broken down by sector

3. Scottish Qualifications Authority • Current and forecast skill gaps and skill shortages across all

sectors

4. Sector Skills Councils• Sub-Scotland level LMI• LMI projections

WHAT YOU SAY YOU NEED (CONT)

5. Skills Development Scotland• Labour market projections (or forecasts)• Comprehensive vacancy information• Sub-Scotland sectoral information • Localised LMI

6. Typical pattern • You want detail (local, specific sectors, etc)• You want to know about future• Both of these carry danger of extreme unreliability! LMI is really

quite exciting!!• Detail also costs, unless from existing datasets designed for other

purposes (e.g. vacancy notification)

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WHO NEEDS WHAT?

1. Learners and Jobseekers – and their advisers• Prospects for specific careers – or even jobs• How to enter specific careers or jobs

2. Employers• Current and prospective general labour supply• Current and prospective supply of key skills• Measured over extensive travel to work areas for inward investors

and/or large employers

3. Learning and training providers• Current and prospective skill demands of employers, but this

needs to be detailed as well as general • Prospects for specific careers – or even jobs• How to enter and sustain careers or jobs - detail important here

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WHO NEEDS WHAT? (CONT)

4. Funders of training• Current and prospective demand for skills at regional and broad

sectoral levels • Current and prospective skill shortages • Current and prospective skill gaps/deficits• Job entry, sustainability and skills utilisation by type of training

5. Governments and their agencies• LMI that highlights skill demands in key sectors• LMI that guides skills investments to maximise sustainable

employment growth

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FINAL THOUGHTS

1. Need to get much better at generating current LMI before spending a lot on projections

2. Need to nail down regional LMI before worrying about local

3. Need to demonstrate that LMI is getting used – and if not, come up with appropriate response

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