By Marc Larocque

Mayor Thomas Menino announced Nov. 26 that Northeastern’s Center for Urban and Regional Policy (CURP), in partnership with the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA), has developed an interactive research database program called the Labor Market Assessment Tool.

The database will enhance the city’s policy-making ability in areas of economic development and apply it to the historical and comparative related to Boston’s commercial markets, population and economic dynamics, according to a press release.

“This partnership between one of the city’s top academic institutions and the BRA will serve as a resource for Boston residents fueling economic growth and helping individuals and families access new workforce and economic opportunities,” Menino said in the press release. “This assessment tool will bring new depth to our public policy initiatives in the areas of planning, community and economic development across our city.”

The first study produced through the Labor Market Assessment Tool focuses on the need and availability of Boston residents’ English speaking skills.

“We started with language requirements because of a particular interest in it,” said Barry Bluestone, director of CURP and creator of the database. “Certainly what this first report would argue for is an increased need for language skills of firms settling in Boston. It could affect what’s taught at community colleges and, maybe, going back to some high schools.”

He said the idea is to have a better understanding of the job requirements in order to give those meeting the requirements real economic opportunities.

Bluestone said he developed the idea for the database a year and a half ago. After a proposal was developed, Bluestone said, the “BRA got excited” and agreed to fund it with a $50,000 grant.

“Initially, we did it for the city of Boston, part of our collaboration and broader commitment to solving problems the city identifies,” Bluestone said. “But the program itself is not keyed to Boston. It’s so generic it could be used in North Carolina and Florida. It could be used by local or state governments and researchers. It could help students, companies, temporary staffing, you name it. Anyone who’s purpose is to successfully link people to jobs.”