Labor and Market Assessment Guidance and Tip Sheets

Mercy Corps believes that effective workforce development and employability programs must start with the market. Understanding the needs of local employers - the skills they're looking for, their hiring trends, how they find employees, etc. - is critical to designing a program that builds useful skills which enable individuals to secure real job opportunities. Labor market assessments uncover important employer behaviors and needs and but also seek to understand the larger employment ecosystem. These findings can help us to understand informal and formal rules which influence workforce outcomes, such as the effects of cultural and gender norms on the labor market, as well as how government policies can impact employment trends.

Mercy Corps’ labor market assessment tools have been tested in numerous countries including Haiti, Colombia, Turkey, Lebanon, Liberia, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Tunisia, Indian-administered Kashmir, and Ethiopia. These simple tip sheets were developed to guide field teams through the assessment process, from creating the initial methodology to utilizing and sharing the data and final report.

Before you start:
Tip Sheet Guide
Why Conduct a Labor Market Assessment?
Advantages and Challenges of Participatory Assessment
Developing a Methodology and Scope
Methodology and Scope Template
Selecting the Right Tools
Tool Design and Testing
Sampling
Pre-Assessment Planning

During implementation:
Conducting a Daily Debrief
Private Sector Daily Mapping Template
How to Talk to the Private Sector
How to Interact with the Private Sector
Building Connections with the Private Sector
Tips for Conducting a Focus Group Discussion
Tips for Conducting an Employer Survey

After data collection:
Post-Data Collection Guidance