Workforce Support
Workforce Development Support
In the Chattanooga area, as with any region, a highly motivated, well-trained workforce is critical to continued economic growth and prosperity and enhanced quality of life. We recognize both the challenges and opportunities in today's workplace, which is why we are committed to improving workforce quality.
Our Workforce Development Program brings businesses and services together to address the region's workforce needs. The goal of the program is to ensure the Chattanooga area is equipped with an available labor force that has the skills and education necessary to meet employment demands of the 21st century. For more information, please contact Mattie Moran, our Director of Workforce Development and Education, at 423.763.4339 or mmoran@chattanoogachamber.com.
Visit the links below to learn more about our Workforce Development programs.
Cick Here to Download a .pdf of the Workforce Development Manual
High School Initiatives
Our Workforce Development Committee began its high school initiatives with a career fair for 8th graders, which was designed to help guide the students through their high school courses with a career in mind.
The committee then decided to continue an association with the students with an activity each year throughout high school that would demonstrate the importance of education and how it affects their earning potential. Through these activities we are helping develop the workforce of the future.
These programs are presented in all 18 Hamilton County Department of Education High Schools reaching 15,000 students with more than 1,000 community volunteers each school year with an economic impact of over $1,000,000 in volunteer hours contributed to our school system.
Community volunteers are needed to assist with these events. Please contact Cathy Humble at 423.763.4321 or chumble@chattanoogachamber.com to participate.
Career Crunch
Career Crunch is a two-day career fair for 8th graders. Local professionals from more than 80 companies tell students about the educational requirements for in-demand jobs to encourage them to make good choices while still in school.
College & Career Fair
The College & Career Fair gives 11th and 12th graders the opportunity to network with college representatives and members of the business community. Vendors participate by setting up booths and sharing information about higher education and career opportunities.
Get A Job
Get A Job instructs 10th graders on the finer points of interviewing skills, completing job applications, dressing for success and other topics of importance for the 21st century workforce. Community volunteers are needed to assist with this event.
Reality Check
Reality Check teaches 9th graders budgeting and emphasizes the connection between education and income by allowing students to role-play as heads of househole while trying to provide for their families on a set budget. Community volunteers are needed to assist with this event.
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? is a money management program for 11th graders that focuses on savings and credit card management through the use of an interactive PowerPoint presentation. Community volunteers are needed to assist with this event.
WorkKeys®
The implementation of WorkKeys® in a community ensures that students and employees are adequately prepared for higher-skill, higher-wage jobs. Employers can identify and develop workers for a wide range of skilled jobs. Employers also profile and identify specific levels of skills needed for positions. Students and workers can document and advance their employability skills, and educational institutions can tailor instructional programs to help students acquire the skills employers need.
What is WorkKeys®?
WorkKeys® is a national, industry-driven system of job profiling, assessment and instructional support that helps businesses identify the skills and skills levels employees must have to perform jobs effectively. It empowers businesses to make better hiring and promotion decisions and individuals to make more informed career decisions.
National Career Readiness Certificate
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Sometimes called "The Fourth R," readiness joins the standards—reading, writing, and arithmetic—as the 21st century measure of capacity to enter and remain in the workforce as a contributing employee. Career Readiness refers to the ability to move on to:
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The realities of today’s economy are well documented. Economic development in local, state, and regional areas is affected by the global economy. Individuals must attain higher skill levels than ever to get a job and stay employed. Businesses look for workers with documented skills to succeed in high performance work settings. Industry, community, and government leaders see the need for regional and state initiatives to increase workforce skills and improve the quality of life for the individuals they represent.
The National Career Readiness Certificate utilizes the WorkKeys® assessment test developed by ACT™, a nationally recognized leader in educational testing. ACT™ is best known for its college entrance exam, which measures one’s potential to succeed in the academic world. Likewise, the WorkKeys® system measures a candidate’s potential to succeed in the business/working world. The WorkKeys® system provides an innovative approach to bridge the skills gap in the workplace.
What is a National Career Readiness Certificate?
Three levels of certificates standardize skills that indicate the certificate holder is job ready. The three levels allow an individual to advance his/her skill level in order to qualify for more jobs.
Bronze Level—Indicates the certificate holder possesses core employability skills for approximately 30% of the profiled jobs.
Silver Level—Indicates the certificate holder possesses core employability skills for approximately 65% of the profiled jobs.
Gold Level—Indicates the certificate holder possesses core employability skills for approximately 90% of the profiled jobs.
For individuals who do not initially achieve the Career Readiness Certificate, assessment results will indicate the targeted training needed to achieve the skill level(s) necessary to obtain the certificate. The Tennessee Career Centers will assist those individuals in increasing their skills levels through the use of KeyTrain™ software.
Who endorses the Career Readiness Certificate?
The Career Readiness Certificate is endorsed by:
• Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce
• Chattanooga Housing Authority
• Chattanooga Manufacturers’ Association
• Chattanooga State Community College
• City of Chattanooga
• Hamilton County
• Signal Centers
• Southeast Tennessee Development District
• Southeast Tennessee Workforce Investment Board
• Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development
• Tennessee Department of Economic & Community Development
• Tennessee Department of Human Services
What benefits from participating in the Career Readiness Certificate program will I realize as a business owner or manager?
Benefits to business and industry include:
• Guarantees a better quality job applicant
• Reduces hiring expenses
• Reduces attrition
• Business driven system
• Legally defensible
How do I get started?
Contact your nearest Tennessee Career Center.
Chattanooga: 423.894.5354
Athens: 423.745.2028
KeyTrain™
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KeyTrain™ is a comprehensive, yet easy-to-use system for improving the basic skills measured by the WorkKeys® Employment System. Using KeyTrain™, you can assess your potential WorkKeys® score, review topics in each WorkKeys® skill area, and practice problems similar to those on an actual WorkKeys® assessment. |
The KeyTrain™ system includes targeted, self-paced instruction, pre- and post-assessments, a complete learning management system and an occupational job profiles database. These components can be used to help individuals learn, practice and demonstrate the skills they need to succeed in the jobs and careers they desire.
KeyTrain™ is available at the following locations:
Chattanooga State: 423.697.3100
Tennessee Career Centers
Chattanooga: 423.894.5354
Athens: 423.745.2028
KeyTrain™ at Hixson High School
The Chamber piloted a career readiness program at Hixson High School during the 2009-2010 school year.
One hundred forty-one students used KeyTrain with 659 hours logged in KeyTrain. Ninety percent of the students who worked in the curriculum raised their skill level by at least one in Reading for Information, Applied Mathematics or Locating Information. While these three skills were the majority of the hours logged in KeyTrain, other courses utilized including Writing/Business Writing, Observation, Teamwork and Listening.
Hixson High School was very innovative in the way they implemented the KeyTrain curriculum into multiple program areas: (1) ACT Preparation, (2) Special Populations, (3) Health Care Careers Clinical, (4) Credit Recovery, (5) ESL, (6) English and (7) Business Classes.
