Southeast Tennessee is the first region in the state to develop a Career Readiness Certificate (CRC), thanks to a partnership among the Southeast Tennessee Workforce Investment Board, Chattanooga State and the Chamber.
The certificate is a portable credential based upon WorkKeys assessments that confirms that an individual possesses the basic workplace skills required for 21st Century jobs. WorkKeys assessments were developed by the ACT, a leader in educational testing, to measure potential for success in the business/working world.
WorkKeys measures skills in several areas but the CRC targets three skills areas: reading for information, locating information and applied mathematics. "These skills areas were determined because they are the most utilized assessments in the Occupational Profile database at ACT, which contains about 10,000 job profiles," said Mattie Moran, Chamber director of workforce development and education.
Tennessee Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development James Neeley, Hamilton County Mayor Claude Ramsey and City Councilman Manuel Rico were among the dignitaries who praised the certificate as a valuable tool for workers and employers during ceremonies surrounding the launch of the CRC program last fall.
Workers benefit by having documentation of their ability to perform in three specific areas common to most jobs. Employers can use the certificate to determine if the applicant will be a good "fit" for job openings.
Dixie Group CEO Dan Frierson, whose company introduced WorkKeys several years ago, attested to the value of the program, which guarantees better quality job applicants, reduces hiring expenses and reduces employee attrition.
Frierson noted that during a crunch when cutbacks were essential at his plant, not one manager suggested scuttling WorkKeys as a cost-cutting measure.
"We use WorkKeys not only for new hires but for existing workers seeking promotion," Frierson said. "It’s not just a hiring tool, but a way of life in our business."
The WorkKeys tests leading to the CRC are administered at Chattanooga State and Howard School for Academics and Technology.
Companies already participating in the CRC program are Astec Industries, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, CIGNA Healthcare, Dixie Group, Invista S.a’r.l., Koch Foods, Mueller Company and Suburban Lodges of America.
Employers who would like to take part in the WorkKeys® and CRC programs and job seekers who would like to obtain a CRC should contact their local Southeast Tennessee Career Center. Employers may also call Chattanooga State at 423-697-3100 or Mattie Moran at (423) 763-4339.
