Step 2: Use LMI and Complementary Data to Select Programs of Focus
Use LMI and complementary data to select programs of focus.
The next step is to conduct an in-depth review of LMI and other data to identify the programs of study that lead to high-wage, high-growth jobs in the region. This involves analyzing key data points such as average annual wages, projected employment growth, and the demographics of the current workforce. A crucial part of this analysis is directly comparing the average wages associated with these jobs to the local living wage (as determined via a source like the MIT Living Wage Calculator), ensuring that selected programs can realistically lead learners to sustainable, quality jobs.
Following the LMI review, colleges should assess a range of contextual factors relevant to each program. This process includes recognizing existing challenges, identifying emerging opportunities, and clarifying the primary goals for learners and the institution. By integrating data-driven insights with the unique circumstances of the college and the surrounding community, teams can make informed decisions and finalize the selection of programs to prioritize.
Examples From North Carolina
At one college, the team studied regional LMI data and used the MIT Living Wage Calculator to determine the living wage for single adult in the region and ultimately decided to focus on the school’s paralegal and IT pathways programs in the initial phase of the project.
The team found that the local living wage for a single adult was $40,498 per year. And a review of LMI from Lightcast revealed that the fastest-growing occupations with the most employment opportunities were in management, business and financial operations, computer and mathematical fields, and health care.
The team then examined the college’s public safety, nursing, IT pathways, and paralegal programs to determine which ones would be most likely to prepare students to work in fields that offered graduates of two-year colleges ample employment opportunities, paid more than the living wage, and showed signs of long-term growth leading to opportunities for economic advancement.
Based on those criteria, the team decided to initially focus on the paralegal and IT pathways programs—with a specific focus on the high-paying, fast-growing role of web developer as an example of the type of opportunity available to IT students. These tables offer a look at what the data revealed about those occupations:
Paralegals
$49,258 average annual wage
3% projected growth (2024-2029)
53% of workers hold an associate’s degree or less
Web Developers
$81,030 average annual wage
10% projected growth (2024-2029)
29% of workers hold an associate’s degree or less