Oklahoma Career Readiness Certificate

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Oklahoma Career Readiness Certificate
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Changes in Workforce Needs
1955
2005
50 Years
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Message from Employers
Today's employers are sending the message that
they cannot find qualified applicants for many of
their job openings, citing reasons such as poor
reading, writing, math and basic employment
skills.
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Manufacturers Report

• Inadequate basic employability skills 69
• Inadequate reading/writing skills 32
• Inadequate math skills 21
• Inadequate oral communications skills- 17.5
  Source National Association of Manufacturers
  The skills gap

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Need Better-Trained Workforce
In a recent survey by the Society of Human
Resource Managers (SHRM), human resource
professionals said that the skills of more than
60 percent of their job applicants are deficient.
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Arkansas Education Report
Employers say less than half of the recent high
school graduates who apply for jobs in their
company have quality writing skills or the
ability to do basic math.  More than 60 are not
satisfied with the ability of recent high school
graduates to read and understand written
instructions and materials. 
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Business and education havent talked with each
other about their needs
causing a disconnect between the supply side
(education) and demand side (employers) standards
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Is there a common language?
Employers say New hires need more
math. Educators ask How much more? Employers
say We need better reading skills. Educators
ask How much better? We all know these can be
endless discussions.
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• Do Employers Have Qualified Employees?
• How successful are training classes?
• Are all employees prepared for audits?
• Are team leaders helping weak employees too
  much?
• Are data entry errors hurting the information
  system?
• Having trouble with hiring, promoting, or
  training?
• How do we measure qualifications?

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How do we know
what skills are needed?
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Educators and Employers need a trusted common
language
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ACT Developed
A Measuring Stick a Skills-based
Ruler

• Simple to understand
• Validated by research
• Link job requirements with skills
• Common language for educators and employers

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(No Transcript)
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Oklahoma Launches Skills Assessment and
Certification Program
The Governor's Council for Workforce and
Economic Development and many of its partner
agencies rolled out a system of assessment and
certification designed to meet the needs of both
employees and employers in October 2006.
Oklahoma Career Readiness Certificate
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Oklahomas Career Readiness Certificate (CRC)
Program
t

• A career-readiness certificate program with a
  portable credential documenting fundamental
  skills required by employers
• Using the assessment system to validate the
  skills and skill levels of job seekers and
  compare them to the skills needed for jobs in
  Oklahoma today and in the future.

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3 WorkKeys Foundational Skills Used for CRC
Reading for Information (RI) measures the
skills used when people read and use written text
to do a job. Locating Information (LI)
measures the skills people use when they work
with workplace graphics such as charts, graphs,
tables, forms, and diagrams Applied
Mathematics (AM) measures skills used when
applying mathematical reasoning and
problem-solving techniques to work-related
problems. 
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Oklahoma Career Readiness Certificate
Applied Mathematics (AM) Reading for
Information (RI) Locating Information (LI)
Foundational Skill Assessments
WorkKeys Scores
Certificate
Four CRC Certificate Levels
6s and above
Platinum
Gold
5s and above
Silver
4s and above
Bronze
3s and above
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Number of Certificates Issued
416 PLATINUM 12,564 GOLD 33,515
SILVER 14,434 BRONZE
Total Issued 60,929 Since 2006
As of 9-30-11
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Jobs are Profiled Skill Levels are Established
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What is an ACT WorkKeys Job Profile? The ACT
WorkKeys job profiling service offers a concrete
way for businesses to analyze the skills needed
for specific jobs and to describe those needs to
job applicants. By comparing job profile
information withindividuals scores on the
WorkKeys assessments, businesses can make
reliable decisions about hiring, training, and
program development.
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What Makes Up a Job Profiling Process?
Key Steps to Job Profiling- Creation of an
Initial Task List- Task analysis- Skill
Analysis- Documentation Profiler collects
information about the job to be profiled,
schedules the profiling session, explain
resources and subject matter expert (SME)
requirements, and schedules a tour of the
incumbents workplace.Time Required depends on
the complexity of the job, the number of skills
profiled, and the availability of the subject
matter experts (SMEs)
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So are these tests designed for only low-level,
blue-collar jobs?

• Not at all
• 16,000 unique job titles analyzed for job skills
  
• Fastest growing for professional jobs that
  require at least a bachelors degree.
• The abilities to learn, listen, communicate,
  work in teams, and solve problems are important
  assets for any employee, regardless of career
  choice

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Compare the Employers Need and Individual Skills
Find the Gaps
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5
5
Gold Certificate
Employer Need Job profile
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3
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AssessIndividual Skills
Reading for Information
Locating Information
Applied Mathematics
Comparison shows where additional training is
needed
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So How Do We Fill in the Gaps?

• KeyTrain/Career Ready 101 is a curriculum system
  that assists in improving a student's basic
  workplace skills to help them successfully
  qualify and retain a high-skilled, high-wage
  career.
• KeyTrain/Career Ready 101 helps to close
  identified skills gaps
• KeyTrain/Career Ready 101 offers
  performance-based education and training via an
  online computer program

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Shared Benefits of CRC

• Employers get meaningful evidence of skills
  that lead to performance reduced costs
• Educators receive clear picture of employer
• expectations on skills needed on the job
• Individuals gain rewards for achieving precise
  levels of skills that lead to jobs

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Employer Benefits

• Identifies key job skill requirements
• Identify pool of skilled job applicants
• Matches employee skills with job requirements
• Align training for incumbent worker to specific
  job skill requirements
• Communicate effectively with educators
• Improves employee retention and performance

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Educations Benefits

• Focus training curricula on identified skill
  gaps
• Allows educators to demonstrate student progress
• Linking academic achievement to career planning
  and job opportunities
• Offers a common language with employers
• Increase student employability

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Individual Benefits

• Distinguish individual as a qualified applicant
• Identify individual skill gaps and train using
  KeyTrain/Career Ready 101 to close those gaps
• Rank above other job applicants or incumbents for
  job placement or promotion

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Career Readiness Employer Partner
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Companies across Oklahoma are using WorkKeys and
the Oklahoma Career Readiness Certificate to hire
new employees, assess incumbent workers, and
increase salaries or position responsibilities.

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Oklahoma CRC Employer Partner uses one of the
CRC priority levels to assist in the hiring
process
RECOGNIZE the Oklahoma Career Readiness
Certificate when its attached to a résumé or
presented by a potential employee. REQUEST the
Career Readiness Certificate from all job
applicants and start including CRC Certified
Preferred in your hiring announcements.REQUIRE
the Career Readiness Certificate when hiring or
evaluating current employees for jobs that are
profiled by an ACT authorized WorkKeys job
profiler.
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What Oklahoma Employees Think about the
WorkKeys System
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Employee 1

• " Im a single mom and was surprised the company
  took me without a high school diploma, but
  required the WorkKeys assessment. I like what I
  do. After two years working here, I am now
  earning 20 an hour and saving about 50 a week
  for tuition when I go back to school."Ashley
  Morton, Dynamic Order Picker with Ring Scanner
  VF Jeanswear

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Employee 2

• "Employees who take the WorkKeys test are able
  to apply and move around in the company when
  there is an opening. When I think about where I
  started assembly and where I am now at Pelco
  seven years later its unbelievable. I never
  dreamed Id become a team leader in the shipping
  department."Jeny Rogers, Shipping Team Leader
  Pelco Products, Inc. Edmond, OK

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The Employees
Goals
Perspective
Job Specific Training
Steps to Success
College Degree / Industry Certification
Occupational Training
Locating Information (LI)
Applied Mathematics (AM)
Reading for Information (RI)
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What Oklahoma Employers Think about the
WorkKeys System
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Employer 1

• We need a better trained workforce, one that
  can transition from one job to the next. That is
  why OGE now requires WorkKeys assessments for
  all job applicants. WorkKeys clear explanation
  helps both the job seeker and employer know
  exactly where more training is needed for a
  certain job.
• Gilbert HallSr. Training Coordinator 
• OGE, Muskogee Plant

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Employer 2

• The greatest benefit from the CRC is a more
  streamlined hiring process dovetailed with the
  low turnover rate. Increased productivity and
  employee retention reduces training costs.
  Because of the WorkKeys indicators, we can cherry
  pick who we want to hire.
• Chris Lange, Director of QualityAssurance, S
  toneHouse Marketing Services Norman, Oklahoma

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Employer 3
 Return On Investment Productivity has
increased 25 percent. Absenteeism decreased 10
percent Employee job satisfaction increased past
5 to 6 years. Employees are taking ownership and
are more confident, involved and more part
of the team. Beneficial impact Employees now
talk about needed training and overcoming
the fear of change.
Jeff Parduhn, Owner and Controller,Pelco
Products, Inc. Edmond, OK
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For more information Website
http//okworkkeys.orgorCall Susan Kuzmic at
405-717-4923