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Gap Analysis Template

The foundation of a successful career pathways system is a solid understanding of the

regional labor market. Planners and team members must look at both the regional

demographics and the current and projected need for workers.

The career pathways team should seek to answer the following questions:

I. DEMOGRAPHICS AGE AND GENDER What is the total population of the region? What is the population expected to be in five years? Is there a projected

increase or decrease?

In five years, what percentage of the population will be 55 years old and older? In five years, what will be the age breakdown (by percentage) of the

population under 55 years of age?

What is the projected breakdown between males and females? Is your area experiencing any in migration or out migration of workersthat will impact the labor pool?

II. DEMOGRAPHICS SKILL AND EDUCATIONAL LEVELS What is the breakdown of skill and educational levels of the current

population?

Are you able to project the skill and educational levels for the population infive years?

III. REGIONAL INDUSTRIES What industries are most critical to your areas economy? What industry(ies) is(are) projected to experience the highest growth in new

jobs over the next five years?

What are the average projected earnings for those positions? How does the rate of growth for the particular industries in your region

compare to the rate of growth for those industries statewide?

What industries are projected to show a decline over the next five years?

WSC Toolkit / Gap Analysis Template 9/23/2008

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WSC Toolkit / Gap Analysis Template 9/23/2008

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IV. OCCUPATIONS BY INDUSTRY What specific occupations within those growing or critical industries are

showing a projected increase?

What is the projected increase for those occupations over the next five years? What are the skill and educational levels required for employment in these

occupations?

What are the skill and educational levels required for employment in decliningoccupations?

V. GAP ANALYSIS How do the skill and educational levels of the current labor supply compare tothose required in growing and critical occupations?

How do the skill and educational levels of declining occupations compare withthose of growing occupations?

Are there any organizations currently addressing the needs identified in the gapanalysis for the following populations?

- Out-of-school youth- Low-wage/low-skill workers- Speakers of languages other than English-

Dislocated workers

- Incumbent workers- Others

What is the capacity of these organizations to meet future demand? What gaps are not being addressed? What can be done to address these gaps?