Why LMI Matters for Schools and What is Required
The Education for Employment statute requires districts to conduct an analysis of local, regional, and state labor market needs and the educational and training requirements for occupations that will fill those needs when planning programs, curriculum and services. You can read more about the Education for Employment statute on the ACP Legal Requirements webpage.
Further, school districts that receive federal Carl D. Perkins funding for their Career and Technical Education programs are required to consider the alignment between their CTE career pathway programs and the local, regional or state labor market needs. You can read more in the Wisconsin Guide for Conducting the Comprehensive Local Needs Assessment found on the CLNA Resources webpage.
How Schools Can Use LMI
Design career pathway programs: Review employment projections to decide which career pathway programs to create or sunset. Align course sequences and curriculum so students learn the technical and employability skills tied to occupations highlighted in the employment projections.
Build employer partnerships: Identify top local employers and growing sectors to form advisory councils and find employers who can provide Career-based Learning Experiences (CBLEs) and Work-based Learning (WBL) opportunities.
Prioritize LMI in Academic and Career Planning (ACP): Incorporate wage and employment projection exploration into ACP activities and advising so students weigh interest, opportunity, and earnings. Discuss the advantages of pursuing a job that is in-demand and the challenges of pursuing a job that is in low-demand.