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Mississippi lawmakers and officials told business leaders Thursday that they’re hearing their concerns about needing more and better-educated workers, noting efforts to improve child care and produce more high school graduates. The Mississippi Economic Council, the state’s chamber of commerce, made workforce development one of its main priorities in this year’s Legislature as it met Jackson for its annual day at the state capitol. The council also wants students to get more information on how to make career choices earlier in school. Waller said he’d like to see more opportunities for students to take the ACT Work Keys assessment, which helps measure workplace skills. 

Rather than rank specific state workforce training programs or STEM initiatives across the country or even across a region, Site Selection looks regionally at the state contexts in which such programs are applied. Is there a culture of proactivity, a leader-of-the-pack emphasis on getting graduates to work in in-demand industries and occupations? On skills credentialing? The states with that kind of focus on workforce will be the states with the individually branded programs that work, and that companies notice. National Career Readiness Certificate rankings are among the five factors used by Site Selection in their analysis. 

There are multiple organizations in Huntsville that offer GED training and basic skills for those looking to better themselves. But should we be investing more in skills based training that provides adults with the necessary skills to fill much-needed trade and industrial jobs? One way that Huntsville can help those looking to better themselves is by becoming a “Work Ready Community.” Many communities have chosen to become “work ready” by offering citizens the opportunity to earn the National Career Readiness Certificate.

Hagerstown Community College President Jim Klauber will be closely watching a handful of proposals during the upcoming Maryland General Assembly session, which begins Wednesday in Annapolis. Klauber has requested support from local legislators for a pilot program to get Washington County certified as a Work Ready Community through ACT’s WorkKeys program.

Hawkins County recently achieved a first. The county became the first in Northeast Tennessee, and the Lakeway Area, to become an ACT Work Ready Community. 

Work Ready Communities helps local leaders level the playing field with a high performing workforce. Regions improve their workforce and compete on quality for location consultants, investors, and other decision-makers using data powered by the WorkKeys® National Career Readiness Certificate. Site Selection magazine uses NCRC data yearly to rank state competitiveness. Click the headline to download a two-page overview on site selection insights for Work Ready Communities.

With today’s challenges, we must best serve and encourage individuals based on his or her passions and interest and not a one size fits all model of the past. In order for us to ensure every student has an opportunity to reach his or her full potential regardless of race, wealth, disability, or circumstance, we must address the needs of each student.

Video of Town Hall meeting televised at North Louisiana Technical College. It features Angie White (NLEP) one of our biggest WRC champions. Around the 32.10 mark she talks about WorkKeys specifically.

McNary High School in the certified county of Marion, Oregon promotes WorkKeys as an alternative for students struggling to meet graduation requirements. The posting by MHS also promotes the National Career Readiness Certificate benefits of employability and college credit with the NCRC.

Hawkins and Sullivan counties are the first counties in Northeast Tennessee to achieve Work Ready Community certification through the ACT National Career Readiness Certification program. Workforce development officials with the First Tennessee Development District say other counties in the region are close to obtaining the designation.