Elements and Performance Criteria

Labour markets can be defined by, but are not limited to:
Geographic location
Client demographics
Industry and industry sectors
Seasonal factors
Agricultural crops

Labour market information includes, but is not limited to:
Information regarding industries and industry sectors (e.g. workforce size, recruitment methods, conditions of employment, prospects for growth/reduction in labour force)
Information regarding occupations (e.g. prospects of employment, type of work undertaken, workforce size, hiring methods, conditions of employment, employer expectations of workers)
Labour market trends
Peak and trough periods in demand for labour/ seasonality
Areas of high employment and unemployment
Current labour market conditions
Business and economic forecasts
Emerging labour market developments
Industrial framework
Services, products, business levels of competitors
Other distinguishing characteristics

Information sources include, but are not limited to:
Information available within the organisation
Publications, industry journals, articles
Internet websites
Telephone directories
Commercial databases of businesses and industries
Australian Bureau of Statistics
Department of Employment and Workplace Relations
Workplace Agreements; information on Federal and State awards
Visits to workplaces
Business cards
Industry Associations
Employee Associations
Chambers of Commerce
Grower Associations
State government departments of employment and training
Newspaper recruitment advertisements
Community organisations
University and other research facilities

Appropriate methods to gather information can include, but are not limited to:
Use of internet and intranet
Surveys
Client interviews
Focus groups
Individual research
Questioning during marketing activities to employers
Use of libraries
Publications
Attendance at meetings
Networking
Workplace visits

Current and emerging labour market characteristics can refer to, but are not limited to:
Volunteer workforce
Casualisation of workforce
Length of average working hours
Contract employment
Portability of skills
Globalisation
Impact of technology
Lifelong learning
Changing face of core skills
Core vocational skills gained while at school
Ageing population
Transitional labour market programs

Planning activities include, but are not limited to:
Business planning and forecasting
Job search planning
Promotional plans
Marketing plans
Contact plans
Employment plans for individual clients

Reporting labour market information can utilise the following, but is not limited to:
Tables and charts
Software applications
Reports, written and verbal
Hard copy files

Organisational policies and processes may include, but are not limited to:
Recording of information against client and employer files and database records
Use of Contact Management Systems for employers
Preparation of reports on labour market intelligence and information

Critical aspects of assessment must include:
An appropriate range of labour market data sources have been used to collect information
Labour market information has been analysed to determine relevance to current and future delivery of services
Knowledge of labour market information is applied to planning and problem solving
Work processes are improved through the use of labour market information

Relationship with other units:
This unit is related to
CHCES403A - Develop and monitor employment plans

Essential knowledge required includes:
The composition and working of labour markets
Understanding of labour market characteristics and issues on a national, state and local level
Unemployment figures for local area
Current and projected skills shortages
Occupations within key employing industries in local area
Knowledge of incentives and other assistance available to employer and New Apprentice including Disabled Apprentice Wage Support Scheme

Essential skills required include:
Literacy and numeracy skills to read and understand a variety of texts and statistics; prepare labour market information in a report format and to enter the information into organisation's information systems.
Planning skills to organise information and plan and review work activities
Problem solving skills to deal with ambiguous information.
Oral and written communication skills to provide and elicit advice and information effectively.
Technology skills to use business equipment and software including use of internet and intranet for research.

Resource implications:
Access to appropriate workplace where assessment can be conducted or simulation of realistic workplace setting for assessment.
Access to equipment and resources normally used in the workplace.

Method of assessment:
Observations
Questioning
Project
Written assignment
Evidence gathered from the workplace environment
Demonstration over a period of time to ensure consistency of performance

Context of assessment:
Evidence must include observation of performance in the work environment or in a simulated work setting.