INTRODUCTION TO ACT WORKKEYS September 25 2013 Dr

INTRODUCTION TO ACT WORKKEYS September 25, 2013 Dr. Judith Crocker, Director Workforce and Talent Development

Quality Promote Certifications: Partner with the National Association of Manufacturers, Manufacturing Institute to support the NAM Endorsed Skills Certification System The NAM-Endorsed Skills Certification System is a system of stackable credentials that can apply to all sectors in the manufacturing industry. These nationally portable, industry-recognized credentials validate the skills and competencies needed to be productive and successful in entry-level positions in any manufacturing environment.

Quality Industry certifications • Validate skill level – what workers know and are able to do • Take some of the guesswork out of hiring and promotion, • Reduce costs and minimize risk • Allow focus on interview & resume

SME’S TECHNOLOGIST AND ENGINEER AWS NIMS

Advanced Manufacturing Competency Model Career Paths – Life Long Learning High Quality Middle Class Jobs Occupation-Specific Certifications Entry Level Industry Certifications Ready for Work, Ready for College http: //www. careeronestop. org/Compete ncy. Model/pyramid. aspx? HG=Y

WORKKEYS • Criterion referenced test items • Validated with a wide range of individuals across the country • Tests the application of the academic skills in the workplace • Provide a foundation on which to build both soft and technical skills

National Career Readiness Certificate Certify Your Workforce The National Career Readiness Certificate, issued by ACT, is a portable, evidence-based credential that certifies essential skills needed for workplace success.

National Career Readiness Certificate Certify Your Workforce The NCRC is a credential that is: ™ • Used to document essential skills linked to workplace success • Evidence-based • Industry-recognized • Portable • Contextualized for the workplace • Awarded at four levels: Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum

National Career Readiness Certificate Certify Your Workforce The NCRC is a credential that is used across all sectors of the economy and certifies the following cognitive skills: ü Problem solving ü Critical thinking ü Reading and using work-related text ü Applying information from workplace documents to solve problems ü Applying mathematical reasoning to work-related problems ü Setting up and performing work-related mathematical calculations ü Locating, synthesizing, and applying information that is presented graphically ü Comparing, summarizing, and analyzing information presented in multiple, related graphics

Assessments Assess Your Workforce Work. Keys assessments measure “real world” workplace skills critical to job success. These skills are valuable for any occupation—skilled or professional—at any level of education, and in any industry. Approximately 15 million Work. Keys assessments have been administered.

National Career Readiness Certificate Certify Your Workforce Individuals can earn the NCRC by taking three Work. Keys assessments: ® • Applied Mathematics • Locating Information • Reading for Information 77% of profiled jobs utilize all of these skills* *Numbers are based on analysis of 5, 618 jobs profiled from 2006 to 2010 in the ACT Job. Pro database.

National Career Readiness Certificate Certify Your Workforce Work. Keys Skills for Jobs Profiled National Career Readiness Certificate *Numbers are based on analysis of 5, 618 jobs profiled from 2006 to 2010 in the ACT Job. Pro database.

NCRC LEVELS Ø Bronze: indicates a worker has scored at least a Level 3 on each of the three assessments and has the necessary skills for 35 percent of the jobs listed in the database. Ø Silver: indicates a worker has scored at least a Level 4 on each of the three assessments and has the necessary skills for 65 percent of the jobs listed in the database. Ø Gold: indicates a worker has scored at least a Level 5 on each of the three assessments and has the necessary skills for 90 percent of the jobs in the database. Ø Platinum: indicates a worker has scored at least a Level 6 on each of the three assessments and has the necessary skills for 99 percent of the jobs in the database.

National Career Readiness Certificate Certify Your Workforce Percentage of U. S. Examinees Earning The Certificate 1% Source: ACT Job. Pro Data 2006 -2010 18% 47% 21%

National Career Readiness Certificate Certify Your Workforce Total NCRC Qualifiers by Year and Level Source: Internet and Paper-and-Pencil based Work. Keys Assessments from 2006 -2010. Notes: NCRC Qualifiers include examinees that took the RI, AM, and LI Work. Keys assessments and qualified for an NCRC.

Training & Curriculum Develop Your Workforce By comparing the job profile and individual assessment results, skills gaps can be identified 6 5 Skills Gap 5 4 4 4 Individual Results 3 3 3 Job Profile Applied Mathematics Reading for Information Locating Information

Job Analysis Define Your Workforce ACT’s Job. Pro™ database – which continues to grow – currently includes skill data for:

National Career Readiness Certificate Benefits Career Seekers Provide employers with verifiable evidence of their job skills Employers Screen applicants and find the right workers for jobs at all levels, as well as make decisions about training and advancement of current employees Educators Ensure that their students are ready for meaningful careers Industry Associations Adopt the NCRC as the foundational credential of their skills certification systems Workforce Developers Help to supply employers with workers possessing the necessary skills to meet demand Economic Developers Inform businesses’ decisions about where to locate or expand by demonstrating the skill level of regional labor sheds

Employers have reported • Reduced recruitment costs • Improved retention • Reduced OJT time • Overall increased productivity • More quickly able to contribute to the organization

Work. Keys Process Helps Individuals • Builds confidence • Allows them to “brush up” on skills • Prepares them for challenges and situations they may face at work • Enhances their ability to participate in training

IMPLEMENTING WORKKEYS • Job Analysis What skills and skill levels are needed in the job/position • Assessment What work skills and skill levels does the individual currently have? • Training How can skill gaps be addressed in training programs?

Reading for Information Applied Math Locating Information Test items and explanations on the website: http: //www. act. org/workkeys/assess/sample. html WORK READY COMMUNITIES Ohio Stats: http: //workreadycommunities. org/OH