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Pathnotes, Vol. 20, No. 4<br />
What Every College Access Practitioner Should Know About<br />
WorkKeys: Powered by ACT, Validated by WorkKeys<br />
Presentation by John Nelson, Consultant – WorkKeys,<br />
ACT Midwest Region<br />
May 25, 2007<br />
The workforce investment system – consisting of the workforce (supply side), business<br />
(demand side), and education & training (capacity building) – is struggling. In U.S.<br />
manufacturing, for example, the need for unskilled workers has plummeted since the<br />
1980s, and especially since 2000. Meanwhile, the need for skilled workers has risen<br />
dramatically.<br />
Sources of improvements in manufacturing include capital costs (25%), technology<br />
(30%), staff (35%), and education, training and hiring (10%). The easiest place to control<br />
costs, though it might bring long-term problems, is by reducing investment in education<br />
and training. In particular, employees expect to pay for work-related skill training but<br />
object greatly to paying for foundation skills.<br />
Employers expect their employees to have broadly-based foundation skills, plus skills<br />
pertaining to their occupation, plus specific skills for the jobs for which they have been<br />
hired. In terms of Applied Mathematics, 43 percent of those profiled tested at level 3.<br />
Level 6 skills are often required for union apprenticeships. Level 7 or higher skills are<br />
expected of engineers and scientists.<br />
On the other hand, when high school graduates are tested,<br />
• 9 percent have had no math at all<br />
• 17 percent test at level 3<br />
• 24-25 percent test at levels 4 or 5<br />
ACT developed WorkKeys to address this state of affairs. WorkKeys<br />
• Analyze skills prerequisite for success<br />
• Certify readiness levels<br />
• Teach and Train to fill gaps<br />
Certify Readiness Levels<br />
WorkKeys certifies readiness levels in<br />
• Communication - business writing, listening, reading for information, and writing<br />
• Interpersonal Skills, such as teamwork<br />
• Problem Solving – applied mathematics, applied technology, locating<br />
information, and observing<br />
• Personal Skills – performance, talent, fit
WorkKeys certifies readiness by awarding National Career Readiness Certificates<br />
(NCRCs) as proof of preparedness – that a candidate is ready to learn quickly, solve<br />
problems, and come up to speed on new challenges. The NCRC is best known for<br />
translating a vague statement like “you need math skills” into a precise set of teachable<br />
skills really used in the workplace.<br />
The National Career Readiness Certificate is awarded at three levels:<br />
• Gold – recipient is qualified for 85 percent of all jobs, has skill levels of 5 or<br />
higher, and can expect to be paid between $23,000 and $141,000 (median pay is<br />
$49,000).<br />
• Silver – recipient is qualified for 50 percent of all jobs, has skill levels of 4, and<br />
can expect to be paid between $14,000 and $74,000 (median pay is $34,000).<br />
• Bronze – recipient is qualified for 30 percent of all jobs, has skill levels of 3, and<br />
can expect to be paid between $14,000 and $37,000 (median pay is $26,000).<br />
One example of how this works involves healthcare employees. Each of the three<br />
categories requires a different level of training, but their required foundation skills are<br />
similar:<br />
• Registered Nurses (RNs) must score 5 in applied math, 4 in locating information,<br />
and 5 in reading for information. Their median pay is $53,640.<br />
• Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) must score the same as RNs. Their median pay<br />
is $34,650.<br />
• Nursing Aides must score 3 in applied math, and 4 in both locating information<br />
and reading for information. Their median pay is $21,220.<br />
Teach and Train to Fill Gaps – WorkKeys Tools<br />
If the goal is curriculum reform, WorkKeys offers Targets for Instruction.<br />
If the goal is test practice, WorkKeys offers practice tests.<br />
If the goal is remediation, WorkKeys offers KeyTrain and WIN software training<br />
programs.<br />
Analyze Skills Prerequisite for Success – WorkKeys Tools<br />
If the quality of skills desired is the actual skill set required for a job, WorkKeys offers<br />
Job Profiles.<br />
If the quality of skills desired is the estimated skill set required for a job, WorkKeys<br />
offers the Estimator.<br />
If the quality of skills desired is the average skill set for an occupation, WorkKeys offers<br />
Occupational Profiles.
More Information<br />
For more information contact John Nelson online at John.Nelson@act.org or by calling<br />
847-634-2560. Or visit the WorkKeys website, www.workkeys.com.
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