Putting Data to Work!

1. Putting Data to Work! Surabhi Jain, National Council of La Raza David Swanson, Erie neighborhood House Oswaldo Alvarez, Lloyd A. Fry Foundation

2. What brings you to this presentation?

3. Agenda • Introduction to data • Data types • Where to find data? • How to use data? • Example of data tracking in real life • Funders perspective on data

4. What is data? • Facts and statistics collected together for reference or analysis • Qualitative (descriptive) or Quantitative (numerical)

5. Workforce Data • Labor Market Information • Bureau of Labor Statistics (www.bls.gov) • Regional, national labor market data • Occupational growth (http://www.bls.gov/emp/#tables) • Wage projections (http://www.bls.gov/emp/ep_table_107.htm) • Industry projections (http://www.bls.gov/emp/ep_table_102.htm) • Regional job statistics (http://www.bls.gov/data/#regions) • Employment characteristics (http://www.bls.gov/cps/tables.htm) • “Community” Data • Employers • Community • Internal organizational data • Funders

6. How to use data? (program view) • Guide your work • What to do and what to avoid • Design effective programs • Address the needs of the community + employers • Collaborate with partners • Employers • Community colleges • CBOs • Workforce investment systems

7. How to use data? (holistic view) • Understand the culture of your organization, participants, partners • Understand the shifts you need to make in your program • Understand how to make sure your program leads to community + economic development = workforce development

8. As a funder, how is data important to you?

9. Contact Us! • Surabhi Jain e: sjain@nclr.org p: 312-269-9250 extn. 5056 • David Swanson e: dswanson@eriehouse.org p: 312-432-2270 • Oswaldo Alvarez e: oalvarez@fryfoundation.org p: 312-580-0310