Teaching Labor Market Survey Methodology in Rehabilitation Counseling

Abstract

Labor Market Survey (LMS) and labor market analysis knowledge and methodologies are minimum competencies expected of rehabilitation counselors through credentialing and accreditation boards. However, LMS knowledge and methodology is an example of a contemporary oral tradition that is universally recognized in rehabilitation and disability services but that the literature fails to document its use or to offer commonly accepted methodologies. This article proposes a definition of LMS as it is used in these services given the survey of small population censuses or samples as well as to apply the best practices accepted in survey research to offer a 12-step model to assist rehabilitation and disability practitioners to develop more valid and reliable LMSs for vocational exploration, plan development and support, job placement, or in determining employability, placeability, and earning capacity. The 12-step LMS model is the first comprehensive theoretical method offered in the rehabilitation counseling literature that introduces a dynamic and flexible framework of primary data collection of labor market information that could be utilized in clinical and forensic practice with highly heterogeneous population of individuals with disabilities in order to meet the minimum credentialing and accreditation competencies expected of those entering the field of rehabilitation counseling.

Benchmarking the Importance and Use of Labor Market Surveys by Certified Rehabilitation Counselors

“…This model consists of two data components: labor market research (LMR) involving secondary data , which is generally more econometric, and LMS containing primary data , which is principally ergometric and ergonometric. As identified in other literature (Barros-Bailey, 2011, in press), LMSea can contain either LMR or LMS, or it can contain both components such that LMSea = LMR (secondary data) ± LMS (primary data). The concept of LMSea is consistent with the definition of labor market analysis (LMA) that has been described as “the measurement and evaluation of economic forces as they relate to the employment process” (State of Massachusetts Labor and Workforce Development, para.…”

“…Given the combined and complementary rehabilitation counseling experiences of the researchers, each one independently examined the 2011 RSI-R instrument to determine which items should be included in this benchmarking study. Also adopted as a conceptual framework on occupational information and LMS was the Neulicht et al (2007) Labor Market Search (LMSea) model, as modified by Barros-Bailey (in press). This model consists of two data components: labor market research (LMR) involving secondary data , which is generally more econometric, and LMS containing primary data , which is principally ergometric and ergonometric.…”

“…None of the 11 survey questions on the RSI-R directly address the importance or frequency of use of LMS by CRCs. However, given the Barros-Bailey (2011, in press) definition of LMS and how the data are inferred to the client at the various stages of the rehabilitation counseling process, three of the survey questions on the 2011 instrument directly relate to the use of labor market data for inference in vocational exploration (3, 4, and 9), five relate to inference as applied in the job placement process (1, 5, 7, 8, and 11), and three questions could apply to vocational exploration or placement (2, 6, and 10).…”

“…Labor market survey (LMS) as used in rehabilitation and disability services has been defined as “a survey methods strategy to collect qualitative and/or quantitative data for a small population census or sample about an identified labor market in order to draw inferences to the client/evaluee ( N = 1)” (Barros-Bailey, 2011, in press). There are generally three phases in the rehabilitation counseling process where LMS is used—vocational exploration, plan development, and job placement.…”

“…The intended outcome at this phase is placement and integration of an individual with a disability into the world of work. It has been established by Neulicht, Gann, Berg, and Taylor (2007) and confirmed by Barros-Bailey (2011, in press) that there exists little in the literature on the use and practice of LMS in rehabilitation and disability services; thus, LMS may arguably depict a professional area of rehabilitation counseling that is mainly carried forth by oral tradition in education, training, and practice.…”