1. CEDEFOP
Session 4: Spreading the news around the world Data visualisation as a tool for ICEs
Production of Skills Supply and Demand Forecasts
Alphametrics
Rachel Beaven, Cambridge
Econometrics
Skillsnet Technical Workshop, November 2016, Thessaloniki

2. Data visualisation as a tool for Individual Country Experts
Existing data outputs
Different users have different requirements
Potential improvements to data outputs
Discussion
feedback on existing outputs
setting priorities for improvements

3. Existing data outputs: intermediate results
Format
Purpose and users
Intermediate forecast results – E3ME
“Flat” xls files with accompanying Word questionnaire
For ICEs to review and comment on E3ME macro forecast
Intermediate forecast results – skills
Complex xls files (the Country Workbooks) plus Word questionnaire
For ICEs to review and comment on skills forecast

4. Existing data outputs: final results
Format
Purpose and users
Final results - main forecast results presented on Panorama
Data checking web tool
Checking inputs to and designing how best to show the data on the Panorama
Final results
Workbooks
Several Excel files (same as Intermediate forecast results – skills)
Disseminate full set of forecast results (many dimensions) to all interested, include macros
Final results – Cedefop website
Website presenting various formats
Aggregate results for “general” user;
Briefing documents: e.g. Country Reports;
Skillsnet Forecast users can access the Workbooks
Final results – Main and detailed reports
Word and similar documents
For general users

5. The Workbooks Country Workbooks Other Workbooks Coverage
supply of skills
demand for skills
imbalances and mismatches
Occupational Skills Profiles (OSPs)
The user can control (using the Manager sheets)
years to display
change key assumptions
Other Workbooks
Aggregate, workbooks covering all countries
Cross country comparisons - the Multi-country workbook
Comparisons between series of results, including across countries or across scenarios
A number of the workbooks have been set up to allow for changing data and assumptions. This is done mainly through the Manager sheets which allow users to alter key assumptions. These facilitate:
Choice of years for presentation of the results;
Plugging in different data and assumptions, including the main macro scenarios;
Alternative assumptions about:
Expansion demands by occupation and qualification
Replacement needs
Qualification attainment and improvement rates
In addition to main the individual Country Workbooks a number of other workbooks have been developed to help disseminate and analyse the results. Some of these workbooks cut across country boundaries. They include:
Aggregate, workbooks covering all countries, (a set of aggregate estimates formed from summing the individual country results (using benchmark/default assumptions) for the EU28, and the EU28+3);
Cross country comparisons (benchmark/default assumptions, combining demand and supply) - the so called Multi-country workbook;
Workbooks to make comparisons between series of results, including across countries or across scenarios.

6. Different users have different requirements
Outputs
Skillsnet, Individual Country Experts
Detailed results for their own country
Existing Country Workbooks or their equivalent
Cedefop, other EU cross-country analysts
Cross-country comparisons
Existing Multi-country Workbook;
Cedefop and Skills Panorama websites
Analysts
Access to detailed datasets for customised analysis
Data files;
Sample program/syntax files

7. Potential improvements to data outputs
User
Characteristics
Intuitiveness of navigation between indicators
Presentation of data in different types of aggregations
Ability to transfer outputs to other file types
Ability to create graphic outputs of the data
Size of files produced and proposed way of further distributions
Country Workbooks
Individual country experts
Multi-country and similar workbooks
Individual country experts;
Cross-country analysts
Front-end visualisation tool
Analytical datasets & tools
Detailed data analysts

8. Potential improvements to data outputs
Country Workbooks
extend to provide more detail, but would become larger
simplify, remove user ‘controls’
‘Front-end’ visualisation tools
E3ME front-end: select variables, compare scenarios
Excel pivot tables/charts: select variables, compare countries & scenarios
Analytical datasets and tools for analysis
customised subset of the complete dataset (e.g. Stata, SPSS, or flat-files (CSV) format)
template batch/syntax files that provide standard outcomes (e.g. aggregating results as in the Workbooks)

9. Example of E3ME front-end tool

10. Example of Excel interactive pivot chart

11. Setting priorities for improvements
Discussion
which of the existing data outputs do you use, and what for?
what do you like / dislike about them?
which of the potential improvements do you like?
what changes would encourage you to better engage with and use the data outputs?
Complete and return the Questionnaire

12. Further information
Cambridge Econometrics Eva Alexandri, Rachel Beaven, E3ME model