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The Chromebooks will also be used to prepare for the Work Keys Assessment.  Work Keys is used by many employers across the country to assess work readiness, and individuals who pass Work Keys Assessment earn National Career Readiness Certificates

This coalition of 35 organizations is working toward certifying their communities as ACT Work Ready Communities. By following the ACT system of testing and workforce development, Work Ready Communities can measure, improve the skill sets of the workforce and close the skills gaps for existing employers.

Take a few moments to see how WorkKeys Estimator improves the aim with a stronger focus of tasks aligned with skills for a more thorough job analysis to close skill gaps.

Star City, AR—Lincoln County, today announced that it has met all criteria to become a certified ACT Work Ready Community. This achievement caps a 20-month engagement process and begins a two-year growth and maintenance phase to retain certification.

Beauregard Parish is now certified as an ACT Work Ready Community. Through the efforts of Lisa Adams, Glenda Dean, Randy Cline and the rest of the Greater Beauregard Chamber of Commerce, this parish is now nationally recognized for its workforce.

The Madison County Economic Development Authority (MCEDA) announced that Madison County has met all criteria to become a certified ACT Work Ready Community. This achievement caps the two-year engagement process and begins a two-year growth and maintenance phase to retain certification.

Check out the latest video demonstrating how WorkKeys helps recruit into the career pathway for law enforcement. Calhoun Community College coordinates WorkKeys testing on behalf of the Huntsville Police Department in the linked video. Most agencies fall under the Alabama Peace Officers’ Standards and Training Commission and use three components of the ACT WorkKeys Assessment as their official Basic Abilities Test. Candidates need a four or better in Graphic Literacy and Workplace Documents with a three in Applied Math.

Mississippi lawmakers and officials told business leaders Thursday that they’re hearing their concerns about needing more and better-educated workers, noting efforts to improve child care and produce more high school graduates. The Mississippi Economic Council, the state’s chamber of commerce, made workforce development one of its main priorities in this year’s Legislature as it met Jackson for its annual day at the state capitol. The council also wants students to get more information on how to make career choices earlier in school. Waller said he’d like to see more opportunities for students to take the ACT Work Keys assessment, which helps measure workplace skills. 

Rather than rank specific state workforce training programs or STEM initiatives across the country or even across a region, Site Selection looks regionally at the state contexts in which such programs are applied. Is there a culture of proactivity, a leader-of-the-pack emphasis on getting graduates to work in in-demand industries and occupations? On skills credentialing? The states with that kind of focus on workforce will be the states with the individually branded programs that work, and that companies notice. National Career Readiness Certificate rankings are among the five factors used by Site Selection in their analysis.