The Career Tech Challenge looked at supporting the development of new solutions to help people find rewarding future careers, including those in low pay or insecure work. We’ve been conducting research with the finalists to explore the process of building data-driven solutions. This report explores the findings and highlights how the CareerTech Challenge innovators used labour market data to support adults to plan for their future career.

The CareerTech Challenge, launched in 2019 by Nesta and Nesta Challenges in partnership with the Department for Education, aimed to support the development of new solutions to help people find rewarding future careers. Out of the 31 innovators supported by the CareerTech Challenge, 20 of these  focused on developing digital solutions that connect people with data-driven information, advice and guidance to help them navigate the labour market.

Solutions aimed to help users identify their own skills, and the skills needed for a rapidly changing labour market; identify jobs available in local areas; and
provide pathways to prepare for and secure new, future-proof roles. Learning and Work Institute conducted research with the 20 innovators to explore the process of building these data-driven solutions. This final report shares key findings on:

• Identifying, accessing and analysing existing labour market data
• Developing new and experimental data
• Translating and communicating labour market data