The document discusses the development of an open database called LMI for All that contains UK labor market information (LMI) to support individuals' career and learning decisions. It describes the objectives to identify robust LMI sources, collate them in an accessible online tool, facilitate easy use of the data, and evaluate the tool with stakeholders. The process of developing the database involved creating an LMI repository, assessing and linking various data sources, and testing the database with users. Challenges included linking different data sets and developing the technology to support multiple platforms and devices.

1. The challenges of open data:
emerging technology to
support learner journeys
Graham Attwell, Pontydysgu
Jenny Bimrose, IER University of
Warwick
PONTYDYSGU

2. LMI to support learner journeys
What LMI do learners need?
What do careers practitioners
need to know?
Where can relevant LMI be
found?
How do we know it’s high quality?
Is LMI fit for purpose?

3. LMI for All
To develop a careers LMI data tool that supports
individuals make better decisions about learning
and work
 requiring access to, and use of, core national
data sources

4. Funded by:
Developed by consortia:
PONTYDYSGU

5. Objectives
 IDENTIFY: robust sources of LMI to inform
decisions about learning and work
 COLLATE: sources in an automated, single,
accessible location for careers
 FACILITATE: easy use of LMI data in conjunction
with other data sources
 EVALUATE: relevance of the data tool with key
stakeholders

7. Process of developing the LMI database
 Create a repository of careers labour market
information
 Take lessons learnt from pilot
 Assess data sources in terms of usefulness for careers
and accessibility
 Link up data sources using a common structure
 Test out database during hack and modding days
 To open data up for multiple interfaces for a range of
users

8. Process of development: Dynamic/Iterative
Data
Accessibility & Open Data
Stakeholders & Communication

9. Overview of data sources
 Office for National Statistics – ASHE, LFS, Census of
Population, BRES
 UKCES – Working Futures and ESS data
 BIS, DfE, & other bodies – access to data on
education and training courses
 DWP - access to detailed data on vacancies by
occupation
 Devolved nations – statistical agencies
 Eurostat, Cedefop, etc. – access to European data
 Other data providers

10. Overview of data and indicators
 Employment: historical, projected and replacement
demand (Working Futures based on LFS, BRES)
 Pay and earnings (estimates based on ASHE and LFS)
 Hours (ASHE)
 Unemployment rates (LFS)
 Number of vacancies (ESS)
 Occupational descriptions (ONS)
 Skills, abilities and interests (O*NET)
 Current vacancies (fuzzy search)
 Higher education destinations (HESA)

11. Employment levels
by occupation
How many jobs are there? How many
in my area? What are the past trends?
What are likely future trends?
Labour Force
Survey, Working
Futures
Average earnings
by occupation
How much do people get paid for this
job? How much at the start of their
career? How much in my area?
Annual Survey of
Hours and
Earnings
Unemployment by
occupation
What proportion of people in this
occupation are currently out of work?
Annual Population
Survey
Profile of
qualification level
by occupation
What level of qualification do people
have in this job and what am I likely to
need?
Labour Force
Survey, Working
Futures
Vacancies by
occupation
How many vacancies are there for this
job? What proportion are hard to fill?
Employer Skills
Survey
The data big questions…

12. Challenges in linking LMI sources
 Data from range of sources
 Classification and descriptions of occupations –
use of SOC
 Use of Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings
data
 Local data and sample sizes
 Forecasting data from Working Futures
 Access to job vacancy and skills data
 Need for education and skills opportunities
data

13. Emerging technology
 Open and linked data
 Supporting multiple platforms and devices
 Developing data cubes
 Automatic data upload (ETS)
 Facilitating and supporting third party
developers (API)
 Confidentiality and non disclosure

14. Lessons learned
 Technology challenges: interfaces and tools
for updating data; developing a data cube;
support for mobile devices
 Data challenges: various data sets;
occupational classifications and descriptions;
standardisation of data from different data
sets; local data; sample sizes; future trends;
vacancy data; education and training
opportunities; exploitation of US O*NET

15. Tour of the api…

16. Over to you…
Work on your own or in groups:
 Explore the api http://api.lmiforall.org.uk/
 Draw up some possibilities for app or web
developments using the LMI for All database
Approximately 20 minutes

17. Things to consider…
 What ‘big questions’ are you
trying to answer?
 Apps to address different
audiences, their learning
styles and data needs
 What about data mashing?
 Potential to use on different
devices

18. The big challenges ahead…

19. Early developments…
 Access has now been provided to selected
developers
 Purpose – to understand what creative
applications will emerge
 Two interfaces from early adopters are
publicly available, others are working towards
launch

20. New services for education and training?

21. Can be used along side other, qualitative
information… for example, icould
2
1
Data alongside career videos to encourage and
inspire young people to think broadly about their
careers.
http://icould.com/

22. …For a wide range of
audiences…for example, RCU data
dashboard
A summary
dashboard
presenting
information on the
current and future
employment
demand for UK
occupations to link
LMI to a
curriculum
strategy.
http://rcultd.co.uk/wf/

23. …In a variety of contexts…for example,
Career Trax
Temporary
extension
shows Career
Trax
embedded in
the
‘Right Move’
website.
http://career-trax.herokuapp.com

24. Next steps
 Integration of more data, including:
Short-term - Course data; Job vacancy data
Long-term - More on skills & abilities
(O*NET); European data
 Modding day to develop marketable apps
 Implementation of data cubes

25. How to get involved?
Find out more
http://www.lmiforall.org.uk/
Follow us on Twitter @lmiforall
Become an early adopter
Stay in contact!
Final launch early summer 2015

26. For more information…
Email:
Jenny.Bimrose@warwick.ac.uk
Peter.Glover@ukces.org.uk
Further information:
http://www.lmiforall.org.uk/
http://api.lmiforall.org.uk/