Where the Jobs Are: developing competency in the use of labour market information Carole Brown Past President, Career Development Association of Australia

Where the Jobs Are Improving the application and integration of labour market information into career development and guidance practice.

Objectives Locating quality labour market information Interpreting and making sense of labour market data in various forms Sourcing and applying labour market information at regional and local levels Using labour market information with a diverse range of clients to support career decision making capacity: career self- efficacy, optimism, and adaptability in clients

Project design and delivery 100 workshops delivered to more than 2000 counsellors, employment service providers and career practitioners across Australia from October 2013-December 2014 Delivered by 15 specially trained career professionals in diverse locations ranging from major capital cities, to regional centres and small remote communities Targetting priority employment areas Managed by the Career Development Association of Australia (CDAA) Funded by the Australian Department of Employment

Workshop overview

Duration: half day Content and structure: 1. Locating and interpreting labour market information in various forms 2. Local and regional employment conditions 3. Applying and integrating LMI into guidance practice Materials: Facilitator manual and slide deck, participant handbook Cost: offered free across Australia; registrations, venue and catering managed as part of the allocated funding by project manager in consultation with local contacts

Outcomes 73 workshops have been delivered further 27 in planning anticipated that all workshops will be completed by August people registered to attend the workshops; expected to grow to 3000

Project evaluation Participant evaluation: - on workshop completion - 2 months post workshop Facilitator evaluation Case studies Stakeholder engagement and feedback

Participant responses Learning objectives measured : 1. Locate quality labour market information 2. Interpret and make sense of LMI in various forms 3. Apply LMI at a local and regional level 4. Apply LMI with a diverse range of clients 1071 workshop evaluations have been analysed Strong agreement that key learning objectives have been met and competency in LMI has improved 88.36% of participants agreed they would recommend the workshop (2.84% disagree)

Learning objectives overall Overall 76.9% of participants either agreed or strongly agreed learning objectives met, while 20.26% neither Agreed nor Disagreed. - locating quality labour market information % agreed or strongly agreed - interpret and make sense of LMI at 76.56% - application of LMI into practice – 73.86% - use of LMI with a diverse range of client %

Improvements in capability 72.4% agree or strongly agree that the workshop has improved their capability in the four stated learning objectives % neither agreed nor disagreed. - locating quality labour market information % agreed or strongly agreed - interpret and make sense of LMI % - application of LMI into practice – 68.98% - use of LMI with a diverse range of client – 68.26%

Effectiveness of the facilitators 78.64% of participants either Agree or Strongly Agree that facilitators were effective 15.64% neither agreed nor disagreed

Application of learning Professional practice Workforce development Connections with industry Parent involvement

Developing competency further Access to local and regional labour market knowledge Integration into professional practice Application to employment transitions

Two-month post attendance evaluation Very Low LowMedHighVery HighTotal 1.Efficiently locate current information on local, regional and national labour markets in various forms 2.71% % % % % Evaluate and interpret labour market information 2.26% % % % % Assess your clients’ labour market information needs. 3.17% % % % % Assist a range of clients to understand and apply labour market information to their career decision- making and work search activity. 3.62% % % % % Access others with specialist labour market knowledge at local and regional levels 3.62% % % % %

Application into practice Professional practice Induction of new students into Community Services courses Conducted professional development for new employment consultants in my organisation. Connections with industry and other stakeholders Our stakeholders have become more aware of the resources available to them through local government economic development staff Community and workforce development I am a social planner so the labour market information has improved the range of data I provide our local community and shire council staff Parent involvement Used labour market predictions for our region at a Year 12 Parent Information evening.

Thank you!