Work Ready Community

Franklin County – A Certified Work Ready Community

Gov. Jay Nixon today joined local business and community leaders at CG Power Systems in Washington on January 16, 2014, to congratulate Franklin County for being designated as a Certified Work Ready Community by ACT.  Franklin County was one of the first five counties in the nation to receive this designation.

This voluntary initiative is guided by local community leaders.  By utilizing the National Career Readiness Certificate, Franklin County will be able to attract, retain, and develop a workforce with the education and foundational skills to succeed in the 21st century.

Franklin County has the documentation showing that it can provide a quality workforce with the skills employers need to be “work ready.”

Check out  Franklin County’s application.

Businesses that want to be involved can complete the employer partnership letter.

ACT’s National Career Readiness Certificate

The NCRC is an evidence-based and broadly recognized work-related skills credential.  It provides objective documentation of an applicant’s or an employee’s skill and is recognized nationwide. The NCRC is composed of three WorkKeys assessments and measures skills critical to on-the-job success.

By recognizing, preferring or requiring applicants to have an NCRC, businesses assist Franklin County in attracting new business and transforming the community’s economy to gain a competitive advantage in expanding existing businesses and attracting new businesses and jobs.

WorkKeys

The WorkKeys assessment identifies skill levels in:

  • Applied Math
  • Locating Information
  • Reading for Information

These skills are highly desirable in the workplace, both for new hires and existing employees.  Depending on the WorkKeys assessment score, applicants earn a National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC) in one of four levels: bronze, silver, gold or platinum.  If scores need improvement first, the program provides a remedial path to accomplish that.  By “preferring” that applicants have an NCRC, it has proven to be an effective tool to assist with the screening and hiring process.

WorkKeys can help businesses improve their bottom line, develop a more efficient screening and hiring process, and identify quality applicants to fill openings.

Check out the YouTube video that explains Missouri’s Certified Work Ready Communities.