Techniques of Manpower Forecasting

Parnes, an American economist, observed that it is possible to assess the optimum number of educated manpower required for attaining specific targets of economic growth. The concretisation of this idea resulted in the form of several techniques of manpower forecasting. In one of its reports the UNESCO observed that during the reference year 1968, 60 countries were using one or the other type of manpower models for planning and providing education in their countries. Over the years, there have been improvisations/refinements in manpower forecasting.

As of now, five distinct methods used in this field have been identified.

1. Rule of Thumb Method
2. Employer’s Estimates of Future Manpower Requirements
3. International Comparisons Method
4. Manpower-Population Ratios
5. Mediterranean Regional Project (MRP) Technique