1. MCCTA Conference
July 26, 2012
Career Ready 101& WorkKeys Building Workplace Skills with On-Line Curriculum

2. KeyTrain Assesses potential WorkKeys scores
Based on the WorkKeys assessment system
Assesses potential WorkKeys scores
Reviews topics for each skill area
Provides an interactive remediation tool

3. CAREER READY 101 A comprehensive workplace readiness course
Provides an integrated approach to exploring careers and their skill requirements, building workplace skills using KeyTrain®, and creating life-literacy with such skills as financial awareness and job searching. 
The completion of the program leads users to certification with WorkKeys® assessments and the NCRC. 

4. How Missouri Career Centers Use Career Ready 101
DetermineS basic skills of the customer:
Assists the customer in making informed decisions
Helps staff determine services the customer may benefit from
Initial assessment of skills to match to employers needs
Remediation to prepare for the WorkKeys assessments
Prepare customer for workforce needs

6. What is the National Career Readiness Certificate?
The NCRC, issued by ACT, is a portable, evidence-based credential that measures essential workplace skills and is a reliable predictor of workplace success.

7. The NCRC is a credential that is:
Evidence-based
Industry-recognized
Portable
Certifies essential skills important for workplace success
Awarded at four levels:
Bronze
Silver
Gold
Platinum

8. score on all assessments
Certificate Levels
Certificates are awarded by achieving a minimum
Level 3
score on all assessments
Level 4
Level 5
Level 6
Skill levels demonstrate ability for*
35% of jobs
65%
of jobs
90%
99%
Sample Occupation Correlation
Auto Body Repair Technician
Veterinary Assistant
Janitorial Supervisor
Drywall Installer
Pharmacy Aid
Administrative Manager
Head Cook
Medical Assistant
Engineering Technician
Machinist
• School Counselor
• Pharmacy Technician
• Semi-Conductor Processor
• Business Executive
• Electrician
• Accountant
• Technical Writer
• Sales Manager
• Registered Nurse Manager
• Elevator Installer and Repairer
*Approximate percentage based on jobs in the WorkKeys occupational profile database.

9. NCRC Documents these Skills
Reading for Information
Measures skill used when reading written text
Applied Mathematics
Measures skill in applying mathematical reasoning, critical thinking and problem-solving techniques
Locating Information
Measures skill in working with workplace graphics to find and analyze information 9

10. Training – Closing the Skill Gap
The WorkKeys System offers assessments to identify skill gaps and provide training to improve scores.

11. WorkKeys Assessments – Measuring Skills
ACT’s Work Ready System measures
“real world workplace skills”
critical to job success.

12. Job Profiling – The WorkKeys Difference
A key element of the WorkKeys System is job profiling – identifying a specific skill level for a specific job. ACT has one of the largest, most robust occupational profiles database, with more than 18,000 job profiles and 10 million tests administered.

13. Research & Analytics – Job Comparison Charts
WorkKeys job skill comparison charts compare the skill levels required by jobs in ACT's job profile database and the skill levels possessed by individuals who have taken the WorkKeys assessments.

14. HR Benefits of the NCRC:
Easily incorporated in employer’s existing hiring practices
Predicts job performance and training success
Easier screening of initial applicants
Reduces hiring and training costs
Better decisions about company training dollars
ROI

15. 15

16. Sample job posting using NCRC
Production Trainee
(Job Order Number )
Open date: April 12, 2011
Close date: April 29, 2011
Employer:
Work Site Location:
Pay:
Duration/Hours per week:
Shift/Work Days:
Number of Openings:
ABC Pipe Fittings
Nevada, MO
$9.00 per hour
Full Time/40+ Hours per week:
Days and some weekends 3
Minimum Requirements:
National Career Readiness Certificate:
Education:
Experience/Qualifications:
Preferred
High School Diploma preferred
Entry level position with some overtime required. Must have ability to use industrial hand tools and must have good basic math skills. Salary could be higher depending on experience and qualifications. Applicant must be clean and neat in appearance; punctual; enthusiastic; and willing and able to learn. Regular attendance is an essential job function.

17. Co-branded Marketing Materials

18. Educational Preparation
Why Care?
“The fairly low performance in educating its young population would limit the state’s access to a competitive workforce and weaken its economy.” C
National Center on
Public Policy
Educational Preparation

19. Benefits to Missouri Economic Development Tool
Stronger skilled workforce
Makes Missouri more attractive to developers
Tax Base Increase
Expansion of existing businesses
Moving new businesses to Missouri
Encourages businesses to stay
Keeps employers from moving entry-level jobs to other cities, states, or countries
Decreases unemployment rates

20. Job Applicant Benefits
Portable credentials across state lines and industry sectors.
Improved opportunities for career changes
Facilitates job placement, retention and advancement.
Gives confidence your skills meet employer needs. 20

21. Higher skills = Higher Pay

22. Benefits to Employers Takes guesswork out of hiring for the employer
Reduces turnover cost
Reduces training time and costs
Better quality in hires
Increases productivity

23. Employers in Missouri

24. Evidence-Based Hiring Process
“The National Career Readiness Certificate will make the hiring process smoother and more efficient. It will provide effective measure of the applicant’s fundamental skills, and give the employer an assessment for potential success. Today’s economy demands a tool which ensures job seekers have the right stuff to succeed.”
Daniel P. Mehan,
President/CEO, Missouri State Chamber of Commerce

25. National Career Readiness Certificates in the Midwest
IOWA
Population 3 million
NCRC 14,434
NEBRASKA
Population 1.8 million
452
ILLINOIS
Population 12.8 million
NCRC 15,990
KANSAS
Population 2.8 million
NCRC 12,935
MISSOURI
Population 5.9 million
NCRC 10,128
KENTUCKY
Population 4.3 million
NCRC 46,817
OKLAHOMA
Population 3.7 million
NCRC 58,169
TENNESSEE
Population 6.3 million
NCRC 84,567
ARKANSAS
Population 3 million
NCRC 10,420

26. Missouri Department of Economic Development
Division of Workforce Development
Julie Gibson, Director

27. Certified Work Ready Communities (CWRC)
A framework for community-based workforce development to drive economic development.

28. An effort to align CWRC Vision Workforce Education
Economic Development

29. Framework for Community Economic Development will Help
Economic developers to use an on-demand reporting tool that quantifies the skill level of their workforce
Community leaders and educators to measure skill gaps and build a career pathway that helps both individuals and industry thrive
Businesses and industry to discern and easily communicate the foundational skills needed for a productive workforce
Individuals to understand what skills are required by employers-and how to prepare themselves for success

30. North Star (Navigation Tool)
Missouri will attract, retain, and develop a workforce
with education and skills to succeed in the 21st century

31. 2010 Top Site Selection Factors
Workforce skills
State and local tax structure
Transportation infrastructure
Flexibility of incentive programs
Utility infrastructure
Land/building costs and supply
State economic development strategy
From Site Selection Magazine .

32. AreaDevelopment Magazine
2011 Corporate Survey
Availability of
Skilled Workforce
88%
ranked as
Important/
Very Important

33. Top States for Business 2011
“ When we talk to prospective clients, their No. 1 issue every time is workforce”
Jim Anderson, head of Virginia Economic Development Partnership

34. Goal of CWRC To meet employer needs
The goal of the plan is to develop a reliable talent
supply pipeline that can deliver:
the right workers
with the right skills
right TIME
To meet employer needs

35. Getting There Organize locally (Think County)
Enlist partners (stakeholders)
Gather required components
Apply
Once your county is “Certified” you can renew this status every year

36. Community Benefits of being CERTIFIED
Self determination
Community Collaboration
Recognition for local achievements
Platform for regional cooperation
Economic growth and prosperity

37. QUESTIONS? Melissa Woltkamp melissa.woltkamp@ded.mo.gov (573) 526-8241
Molly Tallarico
(573)