Tag Archives: data

Resource of the Month: Occupational Outlook Handbook

Bureau_of_labor_statisticsAre you looking for a change in career, but are at a loss for options?  Or maybe you know what you want to do, but have only a vague idea what your dream job requires. For example, would you need to take classes?  How many hours a week could you expect to put in at this new job?  What innate attributes would help you in this career?  And what hasn’t even occurred to you?

In plain language, the Bureau of Labor and Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook tells you what you need to know about almost any job you can name. Click the link to any job on the site (there are over 4,000 listed), and you will see a job summary that tells you:

  • what you can expect to be paid in that position,
  • how much education you need to secure the job,
  • how much on-the-job training you can expect,
  • approximately how many of those jobs are currently on the market,
  • how quickly that job market is growing (or shrinking),
  • and much more.

From the Summary page, you can browse categories for more detailed information via links such as What They Do, Work Environment, How to Become One, Pay, Job Outlook, and Similar Occupations.

To access the Occupational Outlook Handbook online via Chatham Community Library’s Online Resources page, choose the NC LIVE link, then scroll down to the middle of the page and click on the Career, Jobs, & Test Preparation category.  From there, click on the Occupational Outlook Handbook link to be taken to the site.  (You can also visit www.bls.gov/ooh directly. No login required.)

Resource of the Month: SimplyMap

SimplyMap

 

 

Are you interested in working with statistical data and geographical imaging systems?  SimplyMap can be a great resource to learn how to work with demographic data or to prepare maps and data tables for a research paper.

Although working with statistical data can be intimidating, SimplyMap has a great built-in tutorial wizard to help you.  Begin by browsing your options on the “I want to…” dropdown menu on the left, where you can choose to plot a map, compare statistical variables in a table, create a demographic analysis of an area, and more.  No matter which option you choose, the wizard walks you through every step using pop-up instructional boxes.

All statistics are provided by the U.S. Census Bureau and can be broken down by state, county, zip code, census tract, or block group.  There is a rich set of data to draw from, covering topics to satisfy any curiosity.  You could plot a map showing average household size of different neighborhoods in Chicago, or create a table showing which state spent the most money on hair care products in 2010!  Best of all, SimplyMap keeps all of your maps and tables open in separate tabs for easy back-and-forth comparison and allows you to export materials as PDF or GIF images, either as files or as emails.

To access SimplyMap, go to the NC LIVE homepage at www.nclive.org.  Under the category “Data & Demographics,” click the SimplyMap link (you will be prompted to enter your library card number outside of the library).  To begin using SimplyMap, create an account with your email address and password.  You may also log in as a guest, though you will not be able to save your work this way.  If you need help, don’t hesitate to ask a reference librarian to assist you.