The National Career Readiness Certificate November 6, 2006 First Annual Central Region WorkKeys Conference St. Louis, Missouri Jon Erickson Vice President, Educational Services, ACT

Workforce Challenges Employee skill gaps Outsourcing Baby boomer retirements Skilled worker shortage T H E C H A L L E N G E

Kiplinger Letter Advanced training needed in most jobs 2 million scientists/engineers needed 2.4 million skilled manufacturers T H E C H A L L E N G E

Economic Indicators Lack of skilled workers Boeing plant–Seattle Importing labor–obstacles T H E C H A L L E N G E

Economic Indicators The exodus of baby boomers 1950s – more people than jobs 2010 – labor shortage of 10 million people T H E C H A L L E N G E (Bureau of Labor Statistics)

ACT Research 12,000 jobs analyzed Foundational skills A C T ’ S D A T A

Reading for Information – 13 percent score at or below minimum levels Applied Mathematics – 25 percent score at or below minimum levels Locating Information – 32 percent score at or below minimum levels A C T ’ S D A T A ACT Research

Ready for College, Ready for Work Findings: The same basic skills are needed for work and college A C T ’ S D A T A

Preparing the Workforce 2005 Skills Gap Report: 84 percent of managers think secondary schools don’t prepare students for work Skills Gap

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Components: Certificates Job and Talent Bank Skill Training T H E S O L U T I O N TM

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Who it helps: Job Seekers Employers Educators Economic Developers Workforce Developers T H E S O L U T I O N TM

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Reading for Information Required for tasks: Identifying main ideas, defining uncommon words Required for jobs: Electricians, HR specialists, nursing coordinators, database administrators, postsecondary education administrators T H E S O L U T I O N TM

Applied Mathematics Required for tasks: solving single-operation math problems, using whole numbers, converting systems of measurement Required for jobs: building inspectors, computer software engineers, laboratory assistants, engineering technicians, heating/cooling inspectors T H E S O L U T I O N TM

Locating Information The fourth “R” Required for tasks: finding info in a graphic, drawing conclusions from graphics Required for jobs: editors, materials scientists, registrars, respiratory therapists, technical writers T H E S O L U T I O N TM

States Affiliated with the National Career Readiness Certificate T H E S O L U T I O N TM

Meaningful to employers, residents, and educators Based on objective, standardized results Easily tied to education, curricula National portability ACT’s pedigree T H E S O L U T I O N TM

State Adoptions Indiana T H E S O L U T I O N TM

Business Adoptions T H E S O L U T I O N TM

Helping Individuals T H E S O L U T I O N TM

Helping Individuals T H E S O L U T I O N TM

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Developed by ACT Used by thousands of companies Determines foundational skills David Herrala Learning Leader Dow Chemical, Michigan T H E S O L U T I O N

Developed by ACT, Inc. Used by thousands of companies Determines foundational skills “the last thing you want is a low-skilled employee working with chemicals all day.”

International Uses: English WorkKeys available in Spanish, French, Italian, Chinese Major clients: Microsoft, Eurocar T H E S O L U T I O N

Components Determining Skill Requirements Skill Assessment Training T H E S O L U T I O N

Our Partners

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Foundational Skill Assessments Applied Mathematics Applied Technology Business Writing Listening Locating Information Observation Reading for Information Teamwork Writing T H E S O L U T I O N

In Secondary Education Preparing students for the working world Kent Intermediate School District Grand Rapids, Michigan T H E S O L U T I O N

In Postsecondary Education Preparing students for specific careers South Suburban College South Holland, Illinois T H E S O L U T I O N

In Business An employee selection tool Subaru of Indiana Automotive T H E S O L U T I O N

In Economic Development T H E S O L U T I O N

Grand Junction, Colorado

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Personal Skills T H E S O L U T I O N

Performance Talent Fit T H E S O L U T I O N Personal Skills

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What we can do: Working Together T H E S O L U T I O N

What we can do: Embracing a Common Readiness Measure T H E S O L U T I O N

The Times, They Are A’Changin’