These kinds of markets, spot markets, are subject to dramatic fluctuations in price and volume. Forward or futures markets help everyone plan, putting today's market in a context of possible tomorrows. Same for labor markets. In the US, the Department of Labor provides broad guesses of employment for various industries and occupations. We'll need fewer steel workers over the next ten years, for example.
Employers respond to predicted shortages or surpluses of talent.
So do students choosing their studies, people changing careers, and folks who migrate to find work. Imagine, however, your company's career site looking a bit like a weather report. Right now we are filling these three openings in finance. Long term we're predicting a need for sales reps strong in a consultive sale of technical commodities. It sets expectations.