Why Data-Driven Decision Making is Important

Sector initiatives need a deep understanding of particular industries, occupations, populations of workers, and regional labor markets to identify needs and formulate effective solutions. Analysis of industry sectors that are of importance to a region, and occupations in those industries that make it possible for the region’s low-income workers to move up career paths to good jobs, are crucial determinants of the highest value investments of limited public resources. States play a key part in collecting and providing data to regions. This module will offer state policy makers and administrators suggestions for improving their data collection and analysis techniques as related to sector strategies, as well as tools for helping their regions do the same.