Key sectors and LMI

Labour Market Information (LMI)

What is Labour Market Information?

Labour Market Information (LMI) helps us understand the world of work and how it changes over time. It provides useful information about jobs, industries, salaries, skills and qualifications, helping you make informed decisions about your future career. 

LMI can help you discover:

• Growing industries: Which sectors are expanding and may offer new opportunities

• Job opportunities: Where jobs are available and how demand for different roles varies across the country and in your local area

• Skill and qualifications: What you need to study, learn or achieve to enter a paricular career

• Salaries and working conditions: What you might earn and what different jobs involve

• Future career prospects: How industries and job roles may change as a result of new technology, economic changes and emerging skills needs

LMI can also challenge stereotypes and help you explore careers you may not have considered before. It can highlight the wide range of opportunities available to people of all backgrounds and abilities.

Why is LMI important?

Choosing a career can feel overwhelming, especially when there are so many options available. LMI can help you explore your interests, understand the opportunities available and make informed decisions about your next steps. 

It can help you answer questions such as:

• What does someone in this job do?

• What skills and qualifications would I need?

• How much could I earn?

• Are there opportunities for this job in my local area?

• What are the future prospects for this career?

• What routes could I take to get there, such as A Levels, T Levels, an apprenticeship or a university degree?

Your career journey may change as you gain experience, discover new interests or develop new skills. Understanding LMI can help you make decisions at each stage of your journey.

Explore careers and LMI

There are several useful websites and tools to help you research different careers and discover where your interests could lead.

Skillsometer - Not sure which career might suit you? Skillsometer asks you to reflect on your likes, dislikes and interests, then suggests jobs you may wish to explore. You can find out more about suggested roles, including typical pay and working hours. 

Careerometer - Compare different jobs side by side to explore information such as salaries and working hours. This can help you understand how careers differ and which options may suit your priorities.

National Careers Service - Explore job profiles, discover the qualifications and skills required for different careers, and find information about courses and training opportunities.

Skills England Occupational Maps - Explore different occupations and discover how apprenticeships, T Levels and other technical qualifications can help you progress into a career. The maps also show how different occupations and training routes are connected.

UCAS - Find information about university courses, undergraduate degrees, higher and degree apprenticeships, and the different routes available after school or college. 

Make informed choices about your future

Take the time to research careers that interest you, compare different options and explore the qualifications and experience you may need. Talk to teachers, careers advisers, employers and people working in different industries to build your understanding.

The more you know about the world of work, the better prepared you will be to make informed choices about your future.