Labor Market Information Center
SD DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

LMIC Home        South Dakota Home        Department of Labor Home        Search        Feedback       Contact Us

LMIC: A whole lot more than alphabet soup

This article was published in the October 2007 South Dakota e-Labor Bulletin.

What is the going wage rate for welders in eastern South Dakota? What occupations are projected to grow the fastest in the state over the next few years? What South Dakota industries have added the most establishments over the last 10 years? What are the state’s current industry trends? What is the unemployment rate in Meade County? What is the current inflation rate? 

These are just a few of the questions for which the South Dakota Department of Labor’s Labor Market Information Center (LMIC) has ready answers. LMIC collects, analyzes and provides to the public, free of charge, information on the labor market of the state. Examples of the types of information they provide are

  • employment levels

  • unemployment rates

  • wage and earnings data

  • estimates of available labor

  • employment projections by industry and occupation

  • business staffing patterns

  • career planning information

Among those who use LMIC’s services are employers, career decision makers, and education, economic development, government, job placement and training program planners.  During the 2007 state fiscal year (July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2007) LMIC served 15,976 customers, with private business representing the largest user of LMIC resources.

Labor Market Information Center Requests by Customer Type
July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2007
Customer Type Number of
Requests		 Percent
of Total
Private business 5,958 37.3%
Workforce centers 3,339 20.9%
State, local & county governments and SD legislature 2,315 14.5%
Schools, colleges and universities (including staff and students) 2,213 13.9%
General public 690 4.3%
Federal government and military 550 3.4%
Economic development agencies 517 3.2%
Media 317 2.0%
Non-profit organizations 58 0.4%
Libraries 19 0.1%
Totals 15,976 100.0%

LMIC maintains an extensive website of labor market data at www.sdjobs.org/lmic,which is available at no cost to users 24/7/365. Data sets available online include:

  • Affirmative Action data

  • Employees benefits

  • Labor supply estimates

  • Projections of industry and occupational worker levels

  • Worker data by Industry

  • Consumer Price Index

  • Labor force estimates

  • Population estimates

  • Wages and earnings data

Several of these data sets are available from user-friendly, interactive database applications.  The user can specify the type of data, using drop-down menus to choose the data type, timeframe and geographical area. The data displayed can then be printed or exported to a Microsoft Excel file for further use. 

Another LMIC website application, one that is an especially valuable tool for economic development efforts, is the Community Labor Profile. Users can create a customized report on the size and characteristics of the labor supply in a community, pulling together the most current data available for the geographic configuration specified. 

The LMIC also provides career planners, and those considering a career move, a comprehensive online resource called Career InSite (www.sdjobs.org/careerinsite). Friendly, helpful assistance using any of the information or features of these LMIC online resources is just a phone call away at 605.626.2314 or 1.800.592.1881. 

The LMIC also distributes the most commonly requested types of information in publications. For example, the South Dakota Labor Bulletin is published monthly to help employers and other customers keep abreast of the latest changes in the labor market. This electronic publication features the most recent data available from the LMIC, including:

  • ·        nonfarm wage and salaried worker levels by industry

  • ·        labor force levels

  • ·        unemployment rates

  • ·        annualized pay

  • ·        unemployment insurance claim levels

  • ·        job opening and seeking activity

Each issue of the Labor Bulletin also includes narrative analysis of current industry employment trends and a feature article on a timely labor market topic. The Labor Bulletin is published on the LMIC Web site and subscribers receive an e-mail when a new issue is available. 

Other free publications available from LMIC include a pamphlet highlighting the results of an employer survey on employee benefits; the South Dakota Hot Careers leaflet featuring projected high-demand and high-wage occupations; and a bookmark listing helpful, reputable Internet sites for labor market and career planning information. Publication requests represent roughly nine out of every 10 requests for information.

Labor Market Information Center Requests by Subject Type
July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2007
Subject Type Number of
Requests		 Percent
of Total
Publications 14,774 92.5%
Information or data 953 5.9%
Technical assistance and customer support 249 1.6%
Totals 15,976 100.0%

Not just data

Labor market information can be overwhelming. So the LMIC staff makes sure that those requesting information do not just get a bunch of numbers, but receive quality customer service in the form of analysis and explanations of the data as well. The LMIC is staffed by a team of labor economic analysts, public information specialists and para-professional administrative-support workers. They possess expertise in such subjects as employment trends, labor economics, prevailing wages, labor supply and demand, demographics and career outlook information. Great customer service is a priority for the LMIC. Every effort is made to provide responses to requests for information within the time frame needed by the customer. Likewise, the staff provides the information in the requestor’s preferred format, by phone, e-mail, fax, mail or over the Internet.

The LMIC also acts as South Dakota’s representative for federal-state cooperative programs with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and therefore has access to and expertise in labor market information for the nation and other states. (Click here for more information.)

Use the Labor Market Information Center website at www.sdjobs.org/lmic or contact them at 605.626.2314 or 1.800.592.1881 when you have specific information needs.

Quotes from LMIC Customers

"The LMIC is a valued partner in our economic development efforts. Their prompt, professional and friendly responses to all of our many detailed data requests help us meet the demanding deadlines of our clients."--Mary Cerney, Governors Office of Economic Development

"I have always recieved the best help from the LMIC. I  have found the labor market information provided is correct and to the point. The data they provide makes a significant difference."
--Tom Karrow, Independent Vocational Consultant, Sioux Falls, S.D.
?

If you have questions or need more information, contact Melodee Lane of the Labor Market Information Center at (605) 626-2314 or e-mail her at melodee.lane@state.sd.us.