Research and data-driven solutions
Authors: Fay Sadro, Head of Evidence and Evaluation and Hazel Klenk, Researcher, both at Learning & Work Institute
We are living in an age of significant labour market transformation. The rise of automation and technological innovation means new career options and ways of working are emerging alongside the decline of certain industries and sectors.
The COVID-19 crisis is a new and sudden shock that has exacerbated and sped up some of this trend, with the UK set for the sharpest rise in unemployment on record.
With today’s working age population likely to have several jobs and careers throughout their working lives, careers advice and support to navigate a more complex job market is more important than ever.
The CareerTech Challenge Prize
The CareerTech Challenge Prize, launched by Nesta and the Department for Education (DfE) in 2019, aims to support the development of new solutions to help people find rewarding future careers.
The Prize has funded 20 innovators who are developing digital solutions that connect people with data-driven information, advice and guidance to help them navigate the labour market.
Solutions are helping users identify their own skills, and the skills needed for a rapidly changing labour market; identifying jobs available in local areas; and providing pathways to prepare for and secure new, future-proof roles.
Learning and Work Institute are conducting research with the Prize finalists to explore the process of building these data driven solutions.
At this interim stage of the research, we wanted to share how the new solutions are being developed, alongside the key successes and challenges experienced by Prize finalists so far.
It’s hoped that wider learning generated from the Prize can support decision makers to build better and more effective data-driven solutions in the future.
How are finalists using data to shape their solutions?
All of the Prize finalists are using data from multiple sources including live jobs postings, educational and skills-based courses alongside labour market data such as official Office for National Statistics (ONS) labour market statistics, Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) course data, O*NET European Skills/Competences and qualification and Occupations (ESCO) to name a few.
By combining a range of different data sets, innovators are able to develop careers advice, skills matching and job search tools that are more tailored for those looking to retrain or change careers.
For example, one Prize finalist uses aggregated data and details about individuals to build job matches underpinned by individual interest and career ambitions.
The resulting job options presented (powered by live vacancy data) not only match individual skills sets but, as far as possible, align with career ambitions and personal interests.
People can then apply for roles directly through the tool, reducing the need for users to deviate away from the platform and streamline the search and application process.