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What is an ACT Work Ready Community?
ACT Work Ready Communities (WRC) empower states, regions, and counties with data, processes, and tools that drive economic growth. Participants leverage the ACT WorkKeys National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC) to measure and close the skills gap and build common frameworks that link, align, and match their workforce development efforts.
States with state- or county-led ACT Work Ready Communities
Use this map to find communities including counties, parishes and other county equivalents that participate in the Work Ready Communities program. Select a state or territory to see which communities are working to build an ecosystem that attracts new businesses and benefits workers, employers, and the community-at-large.
Create a Custom Region
Build a report on any economic region by selecting adjacent communities. The report will show aggregate data for the region’s progress towards Work Ready Community goals.
Total ACT WorkKeys National
Career Readiness Certificates
5,939,538
ACT WorkKeys NCRC Levels:
Platinum:
244,181
Gold:
1,229,532
Silver:
2,974,557
Bronze:
1,491,268
Participating Communities:
Employers Supporting:
Job Profiles:
561
28,805
22,675
Participating Communities :
Employers Supporting :
Job Profiles :
Growth of ACT® WorkKeys®
Communities
Communities may engage in the ACT Work Ready Communities program. Any municipality may be accepted into the Boot Camp to build and launch their Work Ready Communities initiative.
Learn more about how your community can participateCommunity Fast Facts
See who is leading the country in their efforts to build communities that are great for individuals and employers.
Counties with the Most Improvers
Small Up to 29,999 |
Medium 30,000 - 99,999 |
Large A 100,000 - 399,999 |
Large B 400,000 - 649,999 |
Very Large 650,000 - 999,999 |
Mega Over 1,000,000 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
43% DeSoto,Louisiana |
31% Vernon,Louisiana |
29% Caddo,Louisiana |
4% Kent County,Michigan |
4% St. Louis County,Missouri |
8% Clark County,Nevada |
Recently Certified Communities
May 2024
May 2024
May 2024
May 2024
May 2024
May 2024
April 2024
April 2024
April 2024
April 2024
Recently Maintained Communities
July 2024
July 2024
June 2024
May 2024
May 2024
May 2024
May 2024
May 2024
May 2024
May 2024
Site Selectors and Businesses are Taking Notice
Site Selection Magazine Regional Workforce Development Rankings include ACT NCRCs as one of five measures of workforce-related resources!
How does your state stack up?
Site Selection Magazine reaches global corporate location decision-makers.
Find Out NowThe Role of Employers
Employers are the fuel that drives successful state and county Work Ready Communities initiatives simply by recognizing the ACT WorkKeys National Career Readiness Certificate. In doing so, they will have a more qualified workforce ready to fill their jobs.
Learn more about why employers should recognize ACT WorkKeys NCRCs.Hire the Best Employees
Employers can rest assured that when an applicant has the National Career Readiness Certificate on their resume, they have verified skills in:
- Workplace documents
- Applied math
- Graphic literacy
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In The News
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CVTC, Partners Lead Charge to Secure First-in-Wisconsin Designation
Jul. 3, 2024
The elite WRC certification indicates a county’s workforce quality and skills, said Lynette Livingston, CVTC provost and vice president of…
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Employer-Driven Universities Offer Innovative Solutions for Adult Learners (Podcast)
Jun. 24, 2024
In Episode 49 of Ready for Work, we continue our series of FRED Talks from the ACT Workforce Summit. Tracy…
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Work for Warriors Mississippi Connects Employers to Guard Member with WorkKeys NCRC
Jun. 21, 2024
Work for Warriors, a program from the Mississippi National Guard, celebrated the success of a recent pilot with the WorkKeys…
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Storytelling Accelerates Workforce and Economic Development
Jun. 12, 2024
Will Coppage is a creative community developer. From the main stage of the ACT Workforce Summit, Will helped us…
The Voice of the Workforce Ecosystem
Tune into ACT’s podcast Ready for Work, where we showcase workforce industry thought leaders to discuss innovative solutions to challenging issues in workforce development. If you’re an economic developer, subscribe now to learn how you can have a bigger effect on the industry.
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