or
Pender, North Carolina
Pender County is a participating Work Ready Community that is actively engaged in earning their certified status.
Showing: Jan 1, 2012 to Oct 31, 2025
Goals updated only for participating counties
96 %
of goals attainedProgress Towards Goals
Pender is actively participating in the Work Ready program. To become a Certified Work Ready Community, they must prove their ongoing commitment to developing a thriving economy for employers and employees. Requirements include:
- Having economic development advocates receive training at a Work Ready Bootcamp.
- Help members of the community's current, emerging and transitioning workforce earn National Career Readiness Certificates.
- Generate support among private and public employers in the community for hiring people who have earned an NCRC.
ACT WorkKeys National Career Readiness Certificate [NCRC]
| Workforce | Total NCRC |
Bronze NCRC |
Silver NCRC |
Gold NCRC |
Platinum NCRC |
|
| Emerging | High School | 4151 | 1028 | 1855 | 895 | 373 |
| College | 21 | + | 10 | 7 | + | |
| Current | Private | 90 | 18 | 40 | 26 | 6 |
| Public | 65 | 21 | 35 | 6 | + | |
| Transitioning | Adult Education | 10 | + | + | 5 | 0 |
| Unemployed | 297 | 94 | 165 | 32 | 6 | |
| Recent Veteran | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Workforce category not identified | 424 | 70 | 73 | 43 | 26 | |
| Totals | 4846 | 1235 | 2181 | 1014 | 416 | |
| Workforce | Total NCRC |
|||||
| Emerging | High School | 4151 | 1028 | 1855 | 895 | 373 |
| College | 21 | + | 10 | 7 | + | |
| Current | Private | 90 | 18 | 40 | 26 | 6 |
| Public | 65 | 21 | 35 | 6 | + | |
| Transitioning | Adult Education | 10 | + | + | 5 | 0 |
| Unemployed | 297 | 94 | 165 | 32 | 6 | |
| Recent Veteran | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Workforce category not identified | 424 | 70 | 73 | 43 | 26 | |
| Totals | 4846 | 1235 | 2181 | 1014 | 416 | |
The table above is a detailed breakdown of the same ACT WorkKeys NCRC data presented in the upper right box on this page and represents ACT WorkKeys NCRCs earned or improved throughout the community. All ACT WorkKeys NCRC data is updated monthly.
+ Value less than 4
ACT WorkKeys NCRCs Earned
Showing: Jan 1, 2012 to Oct 31, 2025
| Workforce | Goals | Actual NCRC |
|---|---|---|
| ✓ Emerging | 165 | 4172 |
|
✓
Current |
16 | 155 |
| Transitioning | 324 | 307 |
| Workforce category not identified | 212 | 212 |
| Workforce | Goals | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| Employers Supporting | 53 | 182 |
Improved ACT NCRC
| To/From | Bronze | Silver | Gold | Platinum |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Not Earned | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Bronze | 2 | 1 | 0 | |
| Silver | 1 | 0 | ||
| Gold | 0 | |||
Service Delivery Locations
These are the locations in Pender County where a job seeker can take the WorkKeys test.
-
Cape Fear Council of Government-Workforce Development Board
-
Pender County NCWorks Career Center
-
Cape Fear Community College
Participating High Schools
These Pender County high schools help students prepare for and take the WorkKeys test.
-
Pender High School
-
Pender Early College High School
-
Heide Trask High School
-
Topsail High School
Contact Us
For more information on Pender County's efforts in the Work Ready program, contact:
Cape Fear Workforce Development Board
910-274-0348
Employers in Pender County recognize or recommend the ACT WorkKeys NCRC
- Wilkes Communications / RiverStreet
Networks - Holden Temporaries
- Vidant Duplin Hospital
- Human Capital Solutions Inc.
Filtec Precise Inc
- Crabby Chic
- Cape Fear Jewelers
- Southeast Pediatrics
- Ashley Electric Inc
- Badcock Home Furniture &more
- Grapefull Sisters Vineyard
- krs Plastics
- Thompson Price Scott Adams-Co
- Powell & Powell Attorneys at Law
- Xtreme Wireless
- Cartrette Companies
- Walmart Supercenter
- Pacon MFG
- Carolinas Staffing
- Coastal Fabrication
- G &G Healthcare PC
- AutoXcel Corporation
- Green Dot Heating and Air
- Coastal Preparatory Academy
- Walmart
Does your business support job applicants with an ACT WorkKeys National Career Readiness Certificate?
Learn Why It’s Important (PDF) Join The List Denotes this employers recommends job candidates have a Workkeys Certificate. Other employers recognize when job candidates hold a certificate.
