Introductory description

This module enables participants to develop a deep appreciation of the critical role that labour market information (including career-related information) plays in developing clients’ and learners’ employability skills. In addition, participants will critically analyse the nature and basis of a range of LMI and career-related information sources, and critically evaluate their implications for working with clients and learners in a variety of practice settings. Participants will also develop practitioner skills to enable clients and learners to identify and evaluate the relevance and significance of information sources for their career planning. Further, the module will enable learners to assess the implications of such information for promoting social justice, aspiration and equity in career development and coaching work.

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

Exploring the definitions of labour market and career-related information; and identifying the typology, nature, basis and scope of such sources and concepts
Exploring the definitions of employability and the role that LMI can play in enabling the development of employability skills
Exploring political, economic, social, technological and environmental contexts that shape the labour market and related opportunity structures; and that influence the nature of available information
Critically analysing theories and models that account for the ways in which information is interpreted and used by clients and learners as part of their employability skills' development
Critically exploring the methodology and methods by which such information is sourced and used in a wide variety of practice contexts to support and enable the development of employability skills
Exploring the skills of sourcing and generating labour market and career-related information products in response to practice context, and clients’ and learners’ needs
Ethics and values when using such information in practitioner contexts
The role that expertise in labour market and career related information plays in the professionalism of career development and coaching practitioners
Developing a critical understanding of how practitioners' expertise in labour market information may promote equity, social justice and aspiration

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Identify a wide range of labour market and career-related information sources and critically analyse their nature, basis and scope
• Critically evaluate their significance for developing clients' and learner's employability skills, including career decision-making and career-related learning
• Develop the knowledge and skills to source and use such information appropriately and effectively when working with clients and learners in a wide range of practitioner contexts
• Communicate effectively by sharing information and discussing good practice in the design of Labour Market Information and Employability, using the current course guides to presentation and referencing.
• Critically assess the implications of labour market information for promoting social justice and equity as part of career development and coaching work
• Be able to integrate key concepts and theories from the overall course programme, including career development theories, the learning alliance, and career coaching, into this critical area of professional development and practice

Indicative reading list

Bimrose, J., (2021) Labour Market for Career Development: Pivotal or Peripheral? in Robertson, P.J., Hooley, T., and McCash, P., (eds) (2021) The Oxford Handbook of Career Development. Oxford: Oxford Library of Psychology
Bimrose, J. and Barnes, S-A. (2010). Labour Market Information (LMI), Information
Communications and Technologies (ICT) and Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG). The Way Forward?. London: UK Commission for Employment and Skills.
Brown, P. and Hesketh, A. (2004). The Mismanagement of Talent: Employability and Jobs in the Knowledge Economy. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Burke, C., and Christie, F., (eds) (2019) Graduate Careers in Context: research, policy and practice. Basingstoke: Routledge
Elias, P. and Purcell, K., (2013) Classifying graduate occupations for the knowledge society, Future Track Working Paper 5, University of Warwick: Institute for Employment Research Available at: https://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/ier/futuretrack/findings/elias_purcell_soche_final.pdf [Accessed 15 September 2016]
Hirsh, W. (2008). Career development in employing organisations: practices and challenges from a UK perspective. Career Research and Development, 20: 18-22.
Hooley, T., Sultana, R.G., and Thomsen, R, (2019) Career Guidance for Emancipation: reclaiming justice for the multitudes. New York: Routledge
Offer, M. (2001). The discourse of the labour market. In B. Gothard, P. Mignot, M. Offer and M. Ruff, Careers Guidance in Context. London: Sage.
Sampson, J.P. Jr., Reardon, R.C., Peterson, G.W., and Lenz, J.G., (2004), Career Counselling and services: a cognitive information processing approach. Belmont, CA: Brooks Cole
Sampson, J.P. Jr., Reardon, R.C., Peterson, G.W., and Lenz, J.G., (2010), Bibliography: A cognitive information processing approach (CIP) to career development and services. Tallahssee, FL.: Center for the Study of Technology in Counselling and Career Development

Thompson, N., (2016) 6th edn., Anti-Discriminatory Practice: equality, diversity and social justice. Basingstoke: MacMillan
Stein, M. and Hollwitz, J. (eds.) (1992). Psyche at Work: Workplace Applications of Jungian Analytical Psychology. Brooklyn, NY: Chiron.

International

Students (particularly international students) will be encouraged to source and evaluate relevant and appropriate labour market information sources to reflect the globalised nature of employment opportunities for clients and learners

Subject specific skills

Identify a wide range of labour market information (and career related information) using appropriate search processes
Critically analyse the nature, basis and scope of the information
Critically evaluate the information for its usefulness and relevance to practice
Skilfully use the information with clients and learners in order to promote their employability skills

Transferable skills

Present material in clear written form by identifying, analysing and applying key texts and practices using appropriate and adequate structure, spelling, grammar, syntax, length and referencing.