Our Audience

Who uses
the Workforce Information Database?

What is the Workforce Information Database?

A normalized, relational database structure developed for the storage and maintenance of: 

• employment statistics (examples)
• labor market information (examples)
• economic data (examples)
• demographic information (examples)
• occupational information (examples)

What is the Workforce Information Database?

The Workforce Information Database provides states with a common structure for storing information in a single database in each state. The database serves as the cornerstone for information delivery, workforce research, and product development for information that is standard and comparable across all states. The database, once populated, brings together critical workforce information from many sources to promote better analysis and more sophisticated interpretation.  

Relationship Between the WID and Applications

• The WID is a generic data container that can feed a variety of applications for different customers and purposes.
• The WID is NOT SYNONYMOUS with the applications that it feeds.
• Different applications produced by the same or different vendors can access the same WID.
• Applications may require “optional or additional” tables.

Workforce Information Database Advantages

• Provides a “common structure”

• Allows consistent data to be accessed quickly & efficiently

• Results in cost-savings to the entire workforce information system

• Unlimited opportunities for meaningful, customized, local information

• Employers
• Job Seekers & Students
• Educators
• Economic Developers
• Policy Makers

Employers

• Occupational wages
• Employment levels
  in a specific industry 
• Availability of workers
• Local and national economic conditions

 EMPLOYERS

• The Occupational Employment Statistics program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. Estimates are available for the nation, for states, and for metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. National occupational estimates for specific industries (i.e., staffing patterns) are also available.

Employers:

Occupational Wages

The Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages program publishes a quarterly count of employment and wages reported by employers covering 98 percent of U.S. jobs, available at the county, MSA, state and national levels by industry.

Employers:

Employment Levels

Job Seekers and Students:

• jobs/occupations in demand
• skills required for a job
• education required for a job
• training programs available
• occupational wages
• projections of growth or decline in an occupation

• Occupational projections are forecast to show an increase/decrease for a projected period. Projections are useful when trying to decide on or change a careers. BLS publishes Employment Projections annually at national level; however, your local career development counselor will be able to provide the employment projections for your area or visit the Career OneStop for your state.

Job Seekers and Students:    

Projections of growth
or decline in an occupation

• Jobs/occupations in demand
  • In-demand jobs
    are current
    occupations
    with the most
    advertised openings
  • They are found on job boards
  • In-demand occupations are an excellent way to understand what occupations are available now
  • www.careeronestop.org

                Job Seekers and Students:    

• Occupational wages
  • Occupational
    Employment
    Statistics (OES) is a
    survey providing employment and wage estimates for occupations at the state and metropolitan statistical area (MSA).  OES provides wages at the entry, mean, and experienced levels.
  • Find wages for a specific area here.

Job Seekers and Students:    

• Projections of growth or decline in an occupation 
  • Projections help answer question such as: Is my career changing?  Do I need more education to stay competitive? Have I chosen a career path that will have a future?
  • Growing occupations help the job seeker see where the occupation is heading
  • www.doleta.gov/emp

Job Seekers and Students:    

• jobs/occupations in demand
• jobs/occupations in decline
• location of jobs
• skills required for a job
• occupational wages
• training programs available

Educators:

• Occupational wages by labor market area
• Compare occupational wages and labor cost between areas for prospective companies
• Developers use this info to help companies with employee retention program as companies often use occupational wages to assess if they are paying their workers at a competitive rate

Economic Developers

Number of available workers by labor market area

1. Potential talent pool for a prospective company
2. Assess labor supply and demand to see if there is a shortage of workers  
3. Developers use this info to assist companies for talent pipeline development and management

Economic Developers

Skills of available workers

1. Identify the skills companies need to fill job openings
2. Identify transferrable skills of other occupations for additional labor supply
3. Identify skill gaps and work with community colleges for development of training program

Economic Developers

Types of training workers need

1. Work with the community college system to develop programs to train or update workers job skills
2. Use projections data to see if worker training is meeting projected demand/are we over training?
3. Work with companies to assess in-house or on-the job training opportunity to continually adapt to industry developments

Economic Developers

Policy Makers:

• occupational and industry data for plan development and implementation
• education and training needs
• local economic data