Lesson Objective:

As you read and work through this lesson, you will link to sites containing national, state, regional and local labor market information.  By completing the lesson, you will be able to better understand the following concepts:

• Labor Market Information
• Hot Jobs
• Wage and Salary Information in relation to demand, geographical location and years of experience
• Emerging and Evolving Occupations
• Where to find Labor Market Information

Instructions:

1. Read through the following topics.  
2. Think of a career or careers you might be interested in pursuing.  
3. Click on the underlined links to find labor market information about the career(s). 
4. Create a profile about the career(s) using the information you have found according to the topics listed below.  

   Remember, labor market information is one determining factor in your job search.  As you decide upon a career, you still need to weigh your interests, skills, values, what you want from a job and your lifestyle expectations against what each job has to offer!

What is Labor Market Information?

Information about the labor market provides current information and statistics about occupations across the United States.  Since people move more often and consider occupations located across the country, it is vitally important to obtain current information.  It is also critical that the information be verified by looking at different sources.  The federal and state governments publish labor market analyses.  Cities with a Chamber of Commerce and companies also publish statistics and articles dealing with this type of information.  It is important that you ascertain that the articles are non-biased to insure the reliability of the statistics.

   Will Your Career Be in Demand When you Graduate?

"Hot jobs" are jobs that are in demand by many employers.  If you have skills and training for a "hot job," you might have more choices about which company you will work for, where you will work, and your salary. 

When you analyze job demand you need to look at what wages are rising in particular occupations and how they have fluctuated up and down.  You should also look at competition between companies in the industry.  The geographic area where the job is located should also be a consideration.  Is the area growing, or declining in population and other factors?  Job demand for some careers is also determined by population.  Service jobs from fast food workers to doctors have a direct relationship to population of an area.

Click on the link to see some hot jobs in Texas.

http://www.twc.state.tx.us/

     What are Emerging Occupations?

     Emerging occupations are relatively new occupations in the workforce.  The required knowledge, skills, and abilities have not been officially defined by  any career planning guides.

   What are Evolving Occupations?

    Evolving occupations have been listed in occupational and career planning guides, but the required knowledge, skills, and abilities of the occupation have changed or evolved to such an extent that a new definition becomes necessary.

Click on the link to find emerging and evolving occupations for Texas. 

http://www.soicc.state.tx.us/emerging/candidates.htm

Wage and Salary Information

Labor market information provides various salary statistics, ranging from national averages, statewide statistics, to county and city wage information. Job seekers need to look at the information carefully ---many reports list wage and salary statistics that are based on average or median numbers. This number includes all beginning workers, as well as workers who have been in the occupation for 30 years. If you are just entering the job market, you must determine what a beginning worker could expect to earn in the occupation.
   

    National Labor Information

   The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics is responsible for gathering, interpreting and disseminating information about occupations, wages, employees and employers, and other employment factors across the United States,  This site contains many articles and displays various charts and tables about national occupational statistics, as well as state and regional statistics.  This information is important when you are considering salaries and the cost of living across the United States.

The following links provide information:

http://www.acinet.org/acinet/default.htm

http://stats.bls.gov/

  State Occupational Information

  Each state usually gathers wage and employment information.  The Texas Workforce Commission is responsible for gathering this type of information for Texas.  This site considers state, regional, county and metropolitan data, as well as providing insight into "hot jobs," and emerging and evolving occupations.

http://www.twc.state.tx.us/