Good labour market information (LMI) can highlight key issues for employers about their existing workforce and plays a vital role in planning for the future. It can help employers to understand more about the workforce they employ and to plan for the workforce they will need in future.

Good LMI also supports employers to improve benchmarking processes by helping them to compare the characteristics of their workforce with others. We share relevant information with Scottish Government and other stakeholders to ensure they are aware of the size, nature and key issues for the social services workforce in Scotland.

In future the majority of key workforce data will be collected by Social Care Social Work Improvement Scotland (SCSWIS) while the SSSC is taking responsibility for collecting data on some non-registered local authority social work services. These changes aim to streamline and reduce the burden of data collection for some employer.

Further information about these changes are outlined at the end of the bulletin. I hope you find the bulletin helpful. We would appreciate your feedback on the usefulness of this information, examples of how you 've used our LMI or suggestions for future bulletin topics . Please contact Neil Macleod with your comments at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

These Intelligence bulletins from the Scottish Social Services Council, as part of Skills for Care and Development, will let you find out more about the workforce and help plan the Scottish social services workforce for the future.

Skills for Care and Development is the sector skills council for social care, children and young people’s workforce in the UK.

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