Trade Adjustment Assistance

Use of Labor Market Information (LMI)

Summary
Minnesota Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) uses Labor Market Information (LMI) to determine if a trade-affected worker’s current occupation has unfavorable labor market conditions which may warrant the need for TAA benefits. LMI is also used to determine if there will be a reasonable expectation of suitable employment if a TAA benefit is approved. This policy explains this in more detail and highlights acceptable forms of LMI.

Relevant Laws, Rules, or Policies
20 CFR 618.610 Criteria for approval of training
20 CFR 618.665 Amending approved training

Effective Date
7/1/2010

Last Updated
4/17/2024

Contact
Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) Team, DEED.TAA@state.mn.us
Tel   651.259.7543
Fax  651.256.0288
TTY  651.296.3900

Policy

TAA requires valid Labor Market Information (LMI) from trade-affected workers as part of the review for TAA applications.

Training Applications

For training applications LMI is used to ensure the trade-affected worker meets the Six Eligibility Criteria for approval of training. LMI is used, in part, to determine if the labor market conditions from a worker’s impacted employment industry are such that gaining employment will be difficult, thus supporting the need for training.

Minnesota TAA interprets unfavorable labor market conditions to have 1) a Demand of less than 5% based on a 10-year projected growth percentage, and 2) less than 80% of Median wages of the worker's adversely affected employment.
In some cases, the labor market may be favorable, but the worker lacks education or skills generally required for that industry. In this situation, the worker should supply commentary and/or documentation to support this.

TAA must also ensure that the LMI provides the following:

Must establish there is a reasonable expectation of employment following completion of training.

Minnesota TAA interprets favorable labor market conditions to have 1) a Demand of greater than 5% based on a 10-year projected growth percentage, and 2) greater than 80% of Median wages of the worker's adversely affected employment.

If the future employment LMI is under 5% or less than 80% of the worker's layoff wage, the worker must provide commentary or justification to show it's reasonable to expect employment after training. Some examples might be letters from businesses, job postings, or additional commentary from the Department of Employment and Economic Development’s (DEED) labor market analyst (deed.lmi@state.mn.us).

Before approving training in occupations with limited demand, TAA must consider the number of individuals currently enrolled in training that are likely to meet that demand before enrolling additional workers in training for that occupation.

Must be limited to the worker’s commuting area, or the area where the worker intends to relocate.

Must be used when amending a training application to determine if a reasonable expectation of employment still exists.

May be used to establish a reasonable expectation of self-employment in an occupation for which the worker requests training and that such self-employment will provide the worker with wages or earnings at or near the worker's wages from adversely affected employment.

Job Search Allowance and Relocation Allowance

TAA uses LMI, in part, to establish trade-affected workers meet the requirement of suitable employment when applying for Job Search Allowance or Relocation Allowance. LMI should meet the same criteria as described above to establish the worker is applying for suitable employment or, in the case of relocation allowance, has received a job offer for suitable employment.

Source of Labor Market Information

Dislocated Worker Counselors should provide the following information from DEED’s Career & Education Explorer data tool (See the "DEED's Career & Education Explorer Data Tool" in the "Related Links" at the bottom of this policy) that “best” aligns with the worker’s trade-impacted employment as well as future employment:

Copies of both the regional and state LMI details, highlighting:

- Demand: Projected openings based on 10-year Growth Percentage

- Median wage

If appropriate, the Dislocated Worker Counselor may contact DEED’s LMI Helpdesk at deed.lmi@state.mn.us and provide supplemental commentary from the LMI analyst. TAA Specialists reserve the right to research, question, and validate all data

Alternate formats such as Braille, audio-visual and large print are available upon request.