Tip Sheets

Labour Market Information Can Change Your Life

Very likely, it already has.

What is labour market information?

Labour market information is information about the world of work, including information about different types of work and learning opportunities. It also includes labour market trends and forecasts about future employment growth.

You may not be familiar with the term even though you run into aspects of labour market information all the time: in casual conversations, on talk shows, in the news. When you hear that an organization is hiring or downsizing, that is labour market information. When you learn about different types of work, that is labour market information. When you find out that some industries are growing faster than others, that is labour market information.

Labour market information can help you:

	find work It can help you to tap into the hidden job market—the majority of job openings that aren’t advertised. Information about who is hiring or who may be hiring in the near future helps you focus your job search.
	choose an education or training program Finding out which training credentials employers are looking for and where suitable programs are offered is an important part of making a wise choice when it comes to choosing a program.
	choose an occupation If you are going to spend time and money preparing for an occupation, it’s worthwhile to do some research first. What is a typical day on the job like? How good are the employment prospects? What is the average salary range?

Where can labour market information be found?

Labour market information can come from many sources. Sometimes it is right in front of you.

		Talk to people who work in your area of interest. They may know of job openings or be able to recommend appropriate training programs.
		Watch news programs and career-focused programs like Careers Help TV. Take note of industries and occupations they are profiling as a way to gather specific occupational information.
		Check out the Alberta Labour Market Bulletins at alis.alberta.ca/hs/icr/lmi4.html on the Alberta Learning Information Service (ALIS) website to see what’s happening in your local area.

Other times, you might have to deliberately seek out information that is current and relevant to the career, education or employment decision you are making.

		Feature articles in newspapers may describe a labour market trend. The article itself may not provide you with all the answers to your questions but it may give you a clue to a growing industry and that may mean more job openings in your area.
		Visit unions or associations. They may prepare reports that predict employment needs for specific occupations, wage levels and working conditions.

Remember, current information is your best ally in a constantly changing world of work.

Other Relevant Tips Taking Advantage of Labour Market Trends For more, visit the TIPS home page at alis.alberta.ca/tips

Additional Reading Labour Market Information for Your Business: A practical guide, Making Sense of Labour Market Information and Multiple Choices: Planning your career for the 21st century produced by Alberta Employment and Immigration. For copies of these publications:

		download an online copy or order the publication from the Publications website at alis.alberta.ca/careershop
		call the Alberta Career Information Hotline at 1-800-661-3753 toll-free or 780-422-4266 in Edmonton
		visit your local Alberta Employment and Immigration service centre. To find the centre nearest you, call the Alberta Career Information Hotline.

Last Updated: June 15, 2006