Chamber launches local skills supply and demand database

East Midlands Chamber has launched a new database, which aims to give businesses and educators an insight into skills supply and demand at a local level.

The new online dashboard, called Insight Unlocked, is a new ‘collective skills intelligence observatory’ that pulls together insights from existing data sources around job adverts, occupation projections and qualification levels.

It aims to help people make better decisions around training or studying, assist colleges in how they design the curriculum, and support businesses to find the most effective recruitment routes.

Chris Hobson, director of policy and insight at East Midlands Chamber, said: “People are front and centre of minds for businesses right now as they grapple with one of the tightest labour markets ever witnessed.

“This has led to a recruitment crisis that puts a lid on capacity and productivity, which needs to be raised significantly if we are to bring down prices and inflation.

“But skills gaps are nothing new in many industries, including nationally-critical sectors such as manufacturing and construction, which means we need to start adopting new thinking to tackle deeply-embedded challenges if we are to ever get a different outcome.

“We have developed an exciting new product in collaboration with our partners that can have a real-world impact for businesses, colleges, training providers, young people and others.

“We use data in every aspect of the economy, and now this can be deployed in skills development to ensure we are giving people the skills, knowledge and behaviours that will be needed not just for today’s jobs, but those that will exist in future decades.”

To find out more about Insight Unlocked, visit http://www.insight-unlocked.co.uk .