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“The program can be life-changing for students by offering them the opportunity to make a living wage and provide for their families,” said Aurora Bihler, BUD program coordinator and member of Iron Workers Local 396. “It’s an introduction to the building trades that offers the skills you should have before you go into a construction career like OSHA 10 and CPR/first aid, and it’s also a hands-on program at the apprenticeship schools to see what kind of work you enjoy and what would be a good fit.”

Applicants must be 18 or older, eligible to work in the United States, have WorkKeys exam results and meet Military Selective Service Requirements, if born male. Preferred credentials are a Level 5 score on WorkKeys Applied Math and WorkKeys Workplace Documents, a negative drug test and a high school diploma or equivalent.

The mission of the St. Louis BUD program is to build a more inclusive workforce by increasing construction trade participation among traditionally under-represented groups, including minorities and women. It provides pre-apprentices with the opportunity to visit local building trades unions to give them hands-on basic training and a feel for each of the trades.

Southern Union Adult Education's Valley Campus offers a free class empowering students to earn up to eight professional certifications. The five-weeek class runs 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays. Certificates in addition to the WorkKeys National Career Readiness Certificate include OSHA, three different Northstart Digital Literacy certificates, financial literacy, and CPR.

Among the themes to emerge across the 50 state legislatures and governor’s offices over the past year is how to attract funding from a family of major federal programs toting hundreds of billions of dollars in funds. The various challenges and grants follow closely behind Recovery Act funds for which the states are still finding, it is presumed, the highest, best use.

But there are other motifs arising across the land: Broadband expansion to reduce the digital divide is one. Prioritizing career and technical education is another. And don’t forget finding ways to prepare shovel-ready sites.

In the annual Rankings that Matter series, Site Selection utilizes percentage growth of the ACT WorkKeys National Career Readiness Certificate, among five other key development metrics.

Overseeing the ACT Work Ready program in Hawkins County have been Industrial Development Board coordinator Rebecca Baker, left, and Cooper Standard human resources manager Gabrielle Buchanan, right. They brought the award to the Hawkins County Chamber of Commerce breakfast in December.

Donna Bailey, vice president of human resources at RoyOMartin, joined ACT at the 2022 Workforce Summit held in New Orleans. She was the keynote speaker during the lunch awards ceremony where she highlighted the company’s WoodWorks program, which works with high school students looking to enter the wood products manufacturing field.

Watch the video to hear more from Donna about:

The ACT® Work Ready Communities initiative aligns local education systems and workforce to build a talent pipeline, giving prospective employers and employees a roadmap for success. In Arkansas, there has been a statewide effort to invest in our future workforce based on ACT’s research in developing industry-driven skillsets. As a proud owner of an ACT Workkeys® National Career Readiness Certificate, I can attest the assessments identify key foundational skill levels employers need for candidates to be successful across any industry. Our team in Arkansas will continue to encourage businesses to see the value of ACT Workkeys and for communities to pursue the ACT Work Ready Certification.

Clint O’Neal
Executive Director

Aluminum tubing leader Alfiniti found success with the WorkKeys National Career Readiness Certificate for placing candidates in higher-skilled positions. In partnership with Roanoke-Chowan Community College, Alfiniti HR Manager, Crystal Mabine, recommends the WorkKeys Curriculum to practice and boost confidence.

David Crockett High School is celebrating 30 high school seniors who have excelled on their ACT WorkKeys tests and earned their National Career Readiness Certificates. The students recognized for Platinum scores for the class of 2023 are: Kadence McKenzie Austin, Sydnie Reagan Cobble, Weston Ira Kirby, Elizabeth Danielle Rasnick and Jonah Ambrose Wagner.

Arizona plans to invest nearly $14 million to support career training and development programs for Arizona high school students and underserved communities, Governor Doug Ducey announced Thursday. Initiatives include Workkeys, the Northern Arizona Good Jobs Network, Scholarpath, McKnight Educational Consulting, and EMS Staffing Solutions.

The Joplin, Missouri City Council presented a proclamation from Mayor Doug Lawson during their November 21st council meeting. Jasper County was first in the nation to become a Work Ready Community and recently renewed its WRC designation.