February Hire Results for Businesses

Career Readiness Certificates at Work: How Other States are Successfully Implementing Certificate Programs

As with any new program or initiative, often times the most compelling evidence for using the next best thing is real world examples of how it really works. Lucky for Colorado, several other states have implemented a program such as the Colorado CareerReady Certificate.

Arkansas has its own Career Readiness Certificate

Arkansas’ workforce and employers started the New Year off right as Governor Mike Beebe announced the use of statewide assessment system that would help employers gauge the skill levels and work readiness of prospective employees. On January 15, 2008, Governor Beebe announced that several state agencies had collaborated to offer the Arkansas Career Readiness Certificate. This certificate would be similar to the one that several Front Range workforce centers are aiming to pilot this spring.

Governor Beebe indicated that there were two driving factors behind the development of this certificate program: high amounts of employee turnover and employer dissatisfaction with the state’s pool of applicants. The problem arose because a potential employee looked good on paper but did not demonstrate the necessary skills once on the job. This creates a problem for both employee and employer as neither is happy with the fact that the new employee cannot do the task at hand.

The certificate changes this outcome by ensuring that employees have the necessary skills. By taking the three WorkKeys assessments – Locating Information, Reading for Information, and Applied Mathematics – a prospective employee and the prospective employer know if the skills needed are there and are there at the right level.

Jimmy Hightower is an example of how the certificate can be a win-win for both job seeker and employer. Having been laid off for close to a year, Jimmy was excited to learn about LM Glasfiber’s decision to build a new plant in Little Rock. LM Glasfiber chose to locate in Little Rock largely because they offered the ability to screen applicants to ensure a skilled workforce. Jimmy was one of 100 new LM Glasfiber employees to earn the certificate which got him back in the workforce.

It is also interesting to note that Toyota had relocated to Tupelo, Mississippi after being disenchanted with the quality of the workforce. There were complaints about employees quitting just days after being hired. Toyota chose Tupelo because they offered a higher quality workforce.

Arkansas’ leadership when it comes to workforce readiness is great example of how workforce systems can work with employers to achieve a common goal – to place and maintain a qualified and happy workforce.

In the Morningstar Foods plant in Virginia, the power of a statewide or regional work readiness certificate is found in some compelling statistics. The Virginia plant has found a 64% reduction in training time; a 50% drop in on the job training costs; and 35% reduction in turnover.

Other regions across the country such as Wilkes County, Georgia and Northern Indiana , are taking advantage of work readiness certificates and Workkeys assessments to help make the supply of job seekers meet the demand of employers. That demand is for a qualified workforce that has the necessary skills to get the job done. By using work readiness certificates, supply can meet demand more consistently every time.

Sources consulted for this article:

s 1. "Arkansans complete new career program, begin work for windmill blade manufacturer" http://www.nwaonline.net/articles/2008/01/14/business/011508bizwrkfrccerts.prt

2. "State-run system will certify, train potential employees"
http://nwanews.com/adg/News/213771/print

3. ACT’s web site for National Career Readiness Certificate.
http://www.act.org/certificate/index.html