News

Despite the economic challenges and demographic shifts facing rural communities, rural STARs have the potential to drive growth and innovation in their communities. By focusing on the unique strengths and challenges of rural STARs, we can build a more inclusive and resilient labor market that benefits both rural workers and the broader economy.

The following report from ACT and Opportunity@Work explores the challenges and opportunities facing rural STARs, while also highlighting the potential of leveraging data-driven tools and STAR-centered workforce initiatives to better support a vital yet often overlooked segment of the U.S. workforce.

Let's Get Ready from the National Governors Association seeks to close gaps in resources for state-level workforce development leaders. NGA will release a roadmap to support Governors and states to drive innovation, bolster capacity to measure what works and what doesn’t, and most importantly, prepare students for successful futures and our economy for greater success. ACT contributed a briefing on apprenticeship and career navigation for students as part of the Let's Get Ready resource collection.

The Sheridan Press featured remarks from a recent high school grad that earned the platinum level of the WorkKeys NCRC. Will Betz, a 2024 Clearmont K-12 graduate, earned a platinum National Career Readiness Certificate and began his first semester at Sheridan College. He enjoys the transition, plans to move to dorms, and aims to open a machine or welding shop, appreciating his family’s support throughout the journey.

Associated Electric Cooperative Inc. is owned by and provides wholesale power to six regional and 51 local electric cooperative systems in Missouri, northeast Oklahoma and southeast Iowa that serve more than 875,000 customers. Associated Electric was profiled by ACT for 3 positions; Yard Equipment Operator, Auxiliary Operator (Job posted as General Utility) and warehouseman. 

The Missouri Department of Higher Education & Workforce Development (MDHEWD) was recently recognized at the ACT Workforce Summit in Atlanta, Georgia for having 13 counties maintaining or achieving their Certified Work Ready Community status in the past year.

Missouri currently leads the nation with a total of 99 Certified Work Ready Communities and 112 communities that are participating and working towards certification.

Oswego County is celebrating its status as the first certified “work ready community” in the Northeast! The public is invited to a ribbon-cutting event on Tuesday, Oct. 29 from 6 to 8 p.m. at CiTi BOCES, 179 Co. Rte. 64 in Mexico.

“The best way I can think of to tell the world that Oswego County is ‘ready for business’ is to become the first certified ‘work ready community’ in the Northeast,” said Oswego County Legislator Roy E. Reehil, District 5.

ACT's 2024 Workforce Summit is pleased to debut joint research with Opportunity at Work, Shedding Light on Rural STARs. The partnership spotlighted the challenges and opportunities for rural workers Skilled Through Alternative Routes (STARs). The report emphasizes economic disparities and slower post-pandemic recovery faced by rural STARs, who make up 65% of the rural workforce. The report also discusses the potential of data-driven tools and initiatives like ACT’s Work Ready Communities to support rural STARs’ economic mobility and address systemic barriers to employment and workforce development.

With a panel of Work Ready Community champions, episode 54 explores innovative strategies and real-world examples of how partnerships between industries, educational institutions, and government agencies are reshaping workforce development. Accelerating Talent Development via Cross Sector Collaboration features panelists from Nebraska, Ohio, and Mississippi in the August 2024 edition of WRC-Live! Discover how these collaborations are breaking down silos, fostering skill growth, and creating a more adaptable and resilient workforce.

Hertford County Public Schools (HCPS) is no longer classified as a low-performing district, according to local education officials. ACT/WorkKeys combined saw a 3.0 percent increase to 28.1 percent, indicating enhanced efforts to equip students with the necessary skills for workplace readiness and college preparedness.