News

The disconnect between skilled workers and employers is wider than ever, with access to affordable housing and childcare now among the top challenges preventing new commercial investment and job creation. Collaborative workforce ecosystems, like those in Work Ready Communities, are uniquely equipped to tackle these issues, according to Chad Chancellor of the Next Move Group. Chad examines two crucial elements to succeed in the post-pandemic reality of economic development - expanding the scope of workforce ecosystem collaboration and enhancing the role of work-based learning in skills-driven pathways.

For the fifth consecutive year, Hawkins County has been recognized as an ACT Work Ready Community, a designation that shows potential new employers the county can provide a workforce if they locate here. According to NETWORKS Director of Economic Development Michael Parker the ACT Work Ready designation is an invaluable tool in industrial recruitment to Hawkins County.

Upskill America is conducting a survey to understand how employers of all types (and especially small and mid-sized employers) might value verified credentials and validated skills. Share your thoughts here about where in your talent management approach these innovations might help you, and about what specific data you're looking for in these emerging records.

Despite the economic challenges and demographic shifts facing rural communities, rural STARs have the potential to drive growth and innovation in their communities. By focusing on the unique strengths and challenges of rural STARs, we can build a more inclusive and resilient labor market that benefits both rural workers and the broader economy.

The following report from ACT and Opportunity@Work explores the challenges and opportunities facing rural STARs, while also highlighting the potential of leveraging data-driven tools and STAR-centered workforce initiatives to better support a vital yet often overlooked segment of the U.S. workforce.

Let's Get Ready from the National Governors Association seeks to close gaps in resources for state-level workforce development leaders. NGA will release a roadmap to support Governors and states to drive innovation, bolster capacity to measure what works and what doesn’t, and most importantly, prepare students for successful futures and our economy for greater success. ACT contributed a briefing on apprenticeship and career navigation for students as part of the Let's Get Ready resource collection.

The Sheridan Press featured remarks from a recent high school grad that earned the platinum level of the WorkKeys NCRC. Will Betz, a 2024 Clearmont K-12 graduate, earned a platinum National Career Readiness Certificate and began his first semester at Sheridan College. He enjoys the transition, plans to move to dorms, and aims to open a machine or welding shop, appreciating his family’s support throughout the journey.

Associated Electric Cooperative Inc. is owned by and provides wholesale power to six regional and 51 local electric cooperative systems in Missouri, northeast Oklahoma and southeast Iowa that serve more than 875,000 customers. Associated Electric was profiled by ACT for 3 positions; Yard Equipment Operator, Auxiliary Operator (Job posted as General Utility) and warehouseman. 

The Missouri Department of Higher Education & Workforce Development (MDHEWD) was recently recognized at the ACT Workforce Summit in Atlanta, Georgia for having 13 counties maintaining or achieving their Certified Work Ready Community status in the past year.

Missouri currently leads the nation with a total of 99 Certified Work Ready Communities and 112 communities that are participating and working towards certification.

Oswego County is celebrating its status as the first certified “work ready community” in the Northeast! The public is invited to a ribbon-cutting event on Tuesday, Oct. 29 from 6 to 8 p.m. at CiTi BOCES, 179 Co. Rte. 64 in Mexico.

“The best way I can think of to tell the world that Oswego County is ‘ready for business’ is to become the first certified ‘work ready community’ in the Northeast,” said Oswego County Legislator Roy E. Reehil, District 5.