Karen LeMoine, Career Consultant

Understanding and keeping abreast of the changing labour market is not only important but will ensure employment success. The labour market environment has become complex and the pace and the nature of change is more rapid and unpredictable. Long-term employment in a single occupation or with a single employer has given way to a full range of new work structures. Most of us now can expect to have multiple career changes over a life span.

WHAT IS LABOUR MARKET INFORMATION?
Labour market information includes information on: occupations and careers; industrial information; economic or labour force information; and information about trends that affect the world of work. Labour market information helps us make decisions about our jobs or work lives.
Examples of labour market information include:

• The number of people employed and unemployed
• Descriptions of industries
• Descriptions of occupations
• Lists of employers in an industry, and their importance to a community
• The economic well being and outlook for communities. This includes unemployment rates, the supply and demand for skilled workers, the age, gender and educational level of people in the community.

WHY RESEARCH LABOUR MARKET INFORMATION?
Labour market information helps us make better decisions about our jobs or work lives. It also helps to identify changes or trends that affect the world of work. Labour market information assists people who are looking for a career or are thinking about changing jobs. It also helps employers who are trying to remain competitive.

LABOUR MARKET TRENDS
Some of the trends which have been identified as affecting our current world of work include:

• Shift To Non Standard Employment (The Just-In-Time Work Force)- A move from full-time, full-year employment with one employer to part-time, temporary or contract work
• Lifelong Learning - Today’s worker is expected to change jobs and/or career paths five to six times in his/her lifetime. Lifelong learning is a commitment to a life of upgrading your skills and learning new ones.
• Technology (including computers and growth of the Internet/Intranet) - The computer has found its way into every part of our lives and traditional methods of work are disappearing. Technology is changing so quickly that workers need to continually upgrade work-related skills.
• Growth of Small Business - Computerization and use of the Internet have given small organizations the tools to be part of the global marketplace. In Canada, more jobs are being created by small businesses than large corporations.
• Industrial Shift (the New Economy) – A shift from goods-producing to service-producing industries. The growth in service-based industries means that workers need good "people" skills to succeed.
• Globalization – Companies are increasingly deciding to take part in the emerging global economy and establish themselves in foreign markets.

 

SOURCES OF LABOUR MARKET INFORMATION:

Labourmarketinformation.ca
www.labourmarketinformation.ca

A Guide to the BC Economy and Labour Market
www.guidetobceconomy.org

Service Canada: BC Labour Market Information
http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/en/bc-yk/59/jwtc/lmi/menu.shtml

Lower Mainland Industrial Profiles
http://plaza.kwantlen.ca/sites/industrialprof.nsf/pages/booklets

BC Stats
www.bcstats.gov.bc.ca/

WHAT IS OCCUPATIONAL RESEARCH?
There are over 30,000 different occupational titles in Canada. Occupational Research helps you to find out the details about any of these occupations. Information you may find includes:

• Required Education
• Required Experience
• Necessary Skills
• Working Conditions
• Earnings
• Potential Growth in the Career Field
• Gender and Age Mix
• Future Trends
• Opportunities for Self-Employment
• Unemployment
• Sensitivity to Business Cycles and Seasonal Factors
• Top Industry Sectors
• Size of the Occupation

WHY CONDUCT OCCUPATIONAL RESEARCH?
Occupational research assists people with career decision-making and with educational or training decisions. Occupational research also helps with job search preparation, including research into industry needs and paths to employment in occupations. Occupational research provides valuable information regarding salary and workload expectations, and assists in interview preparation.

Occupational research provides information regarding typical working hours, opportunities for part-time and full-time work, and information regarding the physical work environment. It also provides insight into whether an occupation is opening up to women or to younger or older workers.

Research into unemployment rates in occupations will indicate if finding stable work will be easy or difficult, and if working conditions are attractive or poor. In addition, research into sensitivity to business cycles and seasonal factors will indicate if an occupation is usually stable, or if periods of unemployment be expected.

 

SOURCES OF OCCUPATIONAL RESEARCH:

National Occupational Classification
http://www23.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/2001/e/generic/welcome.shtml

Work Futures (BC)
www.workfutures.bc.ca

Job Futures (National) Search Page
www.jobfutures.ca

CHOICES (Software program, available at Employment Assistance Services Offices)
This software includes a database of more than 995 occupations. Users can research key topics such as interests, education, school subjects, skills and earnings. The software also includes comprehensive databases of information regarding BC post-secondary school programs.

Information Interviews
The information interview is an occupational research tool. By talking to employees, hiring managers, schools or professional associations, you can gather valuable information about an occupation from someone who is already employed in or knowledgeable about the occupation of your choice.

Industry and Professional Associations
Industry Canada (Strategis) Associations List
www.ic.gc.ca

Newspapers and Other Media Sources

• Daily career-related news is available from http://careerpronews.bridges.com. Daily Emails deliver the latest career development information, as well as labour market articles
• The Daily is Statistics Canada's official release bulletin of news releases on current social and economic conditions. Information is available on-line or by Daily Emails on subjects of interest to you. http://www.statcan.ca/english/dai-quo/
• Working.com offers a website and a weekly newsletter which include local and national career news. www.working.com

Other Sources

• Company Websites
• Job Postings
• Libraries
• Volunteering
• Job Shadowing