Describe the program's most important achievements and lessons learned:
Achievements During the eight years that the LMIS has been in operation, there have been three outstanding achievements including: • The introduction of the Skills Bank component; • The expansion of off-line services to include sharing information gathered on the local labour market through research with Guidance Counsellors attached to secondary schools, post-secondary and tertiary institutions as well as with vulnerable groups in the society; • A quantitative labour market study which was conducted in 2009 which identified skills and occupations which were in demand, those which were in short supply and those for which there was reduced demand. Lessons Two of the lessons learnt after the launch of the System were the importance of the informal feedback of users and the need to improve the dissemination of data and information.
Describe the challenges of the program:
The feedback of the users resulted in an enhancement of the System to make it more user friendly, to increase usage. The improved web site became operational in 2010. In order to improve the dissemination of data and information a Public Relations/Marketing Plan was developed. It focuses on effective strategies to reach target groups and the use of several media to reach each one as well as the development of mutually beneficially partnerships.
Specify if the program has any internal and external evaluations, if applicable, include key findings:
Internal: Yes. During March 2010 the Planning, Research and Monitoring Unit of the Ministry which is responsible for updating the LMIS web site conducted a mapping of business processes associated with the web site. All of the sources of data and information and their periodicity were identified. All members of the Unit were involved and there was agreement on how long each activity should take. The process mapping was undertaken to reduce cost as well as improve timeliness and the distribution of information/data. External: Yes.