Understanding and Finding Labour Market Data

In today’s rapidly shifting Australian jobs market, industries are continually being redefined, resized and reshaped.  Sourcing and understanding the latest labour market in our multi-speed economy is essential to career planning but can be difficult to know how to do if you haven’t undertaken career research before.

Sources of career data that can be useful includes:

  • Labour market information including data on national, regional and local markets is available through The Australian Government’s Labour Market Information Portal. This information can be highly valuable for making informed decisions on your future, in line with current wages, industry potential and prospects
  • Australian Jobs 2014 publication from the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations. This publication outlines employment and jobs information by location, industry, occupation and skill level
  • Graduate Careers Australia This site outlines data on university graduate outcomes
  • National Centre for Vocational Education Research – information about vocational education and training
  • Job Outlook – data on approximately 350 different occupations including wages information and prospects
  • DEEWR Skills Shortage Research – Research on skill shortages
  • Small Area Labour Market Information – estimates of the number of unemployed persons and unemployment rates for approximately 1400 Statistical Local Areas across Australia
  • Industry Skills Council – Information and links to Australia’s 11 different industry skills councils
  • Department of Industry – Information on Industry Skills Councils (ISCs), Australian Workforce and Productivity Agency and Australian Government programs to support training and information on training issues
  • Fair Work Australia – pay and entitlement information
  • myFuture: Work & Employment includes videos on existing and emerging occupations

Informal sources of job market information on locations, industry and occupations can also be helpful and found through speaking with experts in the industry. This includes professional career practitioners, experienced recruiters, industry groups, and professional associations, the newspaper and media.

It’s important, with any information, that you assess the reliability and value of the data by investigating where and when the information was sourced from, and who is providing that information.  It’s also important to understand that while understanding the labour market is important, labour market data can change quickly and sometimes be unreliable.

Undertaking a thorough assessment of labour market information can be tough so talking with a Career Development professional can be highly helpful in understanding and navigating this complex but important area.