1. Skip to content

Data Sources


LMIwise Data Sources

Below are the data sources used on the LMIwise website. Click on the link for each data source to learn more about the methodology used to produce the information. Additional details about each data source can also be found in the user guide.

Data Source
Employment and Wages Occupational Employment Statistics (OES),
Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
Projected Annual Openings and Projected Growth Rates Employment Outlook (Projections),
Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
Current Demand Occupations in Demand (OID),
Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
Typical Education Required Educational Requirements for Occupations,
Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
Program Graduates Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS),
National Center for Education Statistics

2016 Provisional Release

Note: An individual with a double major (receiving two degrees) is counted as a completer only for their primary degree program.


Additional Supply & Demand Data Sources

Quantitative data such as the information provided in LMIwise can be greatly enhanced with additional data sources that reflect local, occupational, and/or anecdotal nuances. For example, it may be that the data in LMIwise cannot zero in on the exact region your program serves. Or perhaps local employers are aware of specific trends not reflected in the quantitative findings. The strongest analyses will consider both quantitative data from LMIwise and additional quantitative and qualitative data sources to round out the picture. Examples of additional data sources include:

Data Source
Program Inventories Use program inventories as a quick method to identify available programs. One option is to use the interactive Minnesota State system inventory (click on "Program Inventory"), which has numerous filters and reports:

For non-MnSCU institutions, contact an institution directly (or view their website). The Minnesota Office of Higher Education (click on licensure and registration) provides lists of institutions that must be licensed or registered in Minnesota.

Which institutions must be licensed?
Private Career School Licensure is required for most private schools and training firms that offer occupational programs below the associate level in Minnesota.

Which institutions must register?
Degree-Granting Institutional Registration is required for most postsecondary institutions that are private institutions, out-of-state public institutions, that grant degrees exclusively at the associate level or above, or use the terms "academy," "college," "institute," or "university" in their names.

As a single data source, view all institutions and their programs using the IPEDS Data Center. This method is described in the student interest handbook mentioned.
Wanted Analytics Wanted Analytics and its companion product, Help Wanted Online, are rich sources of data for online job postings, a measure of current occupational demand. Both products require a license to use. Some MnSCU campuses and other organizations have purchased licenses for this product. Pilot tests conducted in 2014 as part of The Itasca Project may lead to broader deployment of Wanted Analytics.
EMSI Economic Modeling Specialists, Inc. is a licensed-based tool that allows users to investigate additional supply and demand data based on customized regions and analyses. EMSI also offers consulting services. Pilot tests conducted in 2014 as part of The Itasca Project may lead to broader deployment of EMSI.
DEED In 2014 the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development deployed a website with information, including:

Current Monthly Employment (CES)
Employment Outlook Projections
Graduate Employment Outcomes
Job Skills Transfer Assessment Tool
Job Vacancy Survey (JVS)
Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS)
Occupational Staffing Patterns
Regional Labor Market Data Tool
Unemployment Insurance Statistics
Student Interest Refer to the Student Interest Assessment Handbook for a variety of data collection methods and sources. This is posted on the MnSCU system office academic programs website (click on Program Planning).
Graduate Employment Outcomes Use this DEED tool to find out how many recent Minnesota graduates found Minnesota jobs one and two years after graduation. It also shows the median wages earned and the top industries where graduates found jobs. You can search by year, location, award type, institution type, and instructional program. Reports will be updated with a new cohort of graduates each year.
Certifications and Apprentices Industry credentials employers may expect job seekers to have earned, and identification of fields of study where apprenticeships are expected can be found on the CAREERwise Education website.
Job Openings Find employment opportunities in Minnesota on the Minnesotaworks.net website.
Accrediting Agencies Find the name of an accreditation agency from the U.S. Department of Education. Once identified, you can search for a specific accrediting agency websites to learn more about standards and other information about member institutions and programs.
Data & Trends on:
Aging, Demographic, Economy, Education, Workforce and More
The Minnesota Compass website tracks trends in a variety of topic areas including education, economy and workforce, health, housing, and many others. Data are organized by geographic area and profiles are available for the state, Minnesota's 7 regions, 87 counties, and cities with populations of more than 1,000.
Other Sources Consult professional or industry publications and obtain advice from a related program advisory committee.


MN DEED