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Skip Navigation LinksLabour Market Statistics and Publications > Concepts > Job Vacancy Uses and Limitations
Job Vacancy Uses and Limitations
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Uses and Limitations

Job vacancy statistics measure unmet demand for manpower and are useful for assessing changes in the manpower demand over time. They enable users to identify industries and occupations where employers are seeking workers. This can have operational use e.g. in improving vocational guidance and helping job seekers and employers make more informed choices.

Data on job vacancy can assist in pinpointing emerging labour shortages. To identify labour shortages, trends in vacancy data would have to be evaluated together with other labour market indicators as well as background information on the occupations and factors affecting demand and supply of workers. This is because persistent job vacancies may indicate either real shortages or factors such as low wages, poor working conditions and unrealistic hiring specifications.