Labour market information
A labour market information system aimed at facilitating transitions into employment must be:
Labour market information is the life-blood of a transition system. It should flow continuously in a permanent loop, transmitting the short- and long-term requirements of employers to current and potential workers, and various characteristics of the working age population to employers. Labour market information is necessary for making informed choices in the education system, making appropriate career decisions, determining the nature and extent of training programs, and providing effective career and employment counselling.
Several reports of Canadian Labour Market and Productivity Centre (CLMPC) task forces have pointed to the need for a better labour market information system (see recommendation 2 in Older Workers Report; recommendation 12 in Unemployment Insurance Beneficiaries Report; and recommendation 10 in Entry-Level Programs Report). In response to these recommendations, the federal government asked that this issue be considered by the Canadian Labour Force Development Board (CLFDB). While reviewing transitions into employment and in view of the imminent establishment of an extensive network of local labour force development boards and their need for information, we strongly believe that the CLFDB should take this opportunity to investigate ways to overhaul the labour market information system.
We believe that labour market information is currently too fragmented, relying too heavily on networks, not comprehensive, and not widely available because employers are not committed to supplying information about job opportunities. As a consequence, the system limits opportunities for a wide range of the working age population. We believe that the current state of labour market information cannot support a coherent model for transition into employment.