The Keys to Success
coastal carolina community college, education, workforce training,
North Carolina has a reputation as a state with a highly educated, skilled workforce. Programs like WorkKeys are one big reason why.
WorkKeys, which is part of the Workforce Initiatives program of the North Carolina Community College System, is a skills assessment tool that connects test results with real-world work skills.
Here’s how it works: Employers use WorkKeys to profile specific skills needed for specific jobs. Job seekers use WorkKeys to determine their skill levels for those jobs and to get further training if necessary.
When training is completed, participants are issued a Career Readiness Certificate, which is a nationally recognized portable employability credential. Skilled workers are entered into an online statewide database. It’s a win-win situation for businesses and employees.
“It takes the guesswork out of hiring for businesses,” says Stephanie Deese, director of Workforce Initiatives. “It also reduces training time. What better way to match skill levels with specific skills needed?”
Currently, 55 out of the state’s 58 community colleges offer WorkKeys testing and issue CRCs.
WorkKeys focuses on certain skill sets that 90 percent of jobs require. These include literacy, applied math and problem-solving skills.
Thousands of national and international companies use WorkKeys testing to analyze skills needed for different positions. These companies then advertise for “CRC-preferred” people to apply for jobs.
For example, here in North Carolina, the Mt. Olive Pickle Co. has used WorkKeys to profile jobs such as machine operators and mechanics. A job applicant with a CRC matching those skills has a big advantage over one without it.
Other companies with facilities in North Carolina, such as Campbell Soup, Energizer Battery, Curtiss-Wright, Kimberly-Clark and PGT Industries, have used WorkKeys to analyze jobs and find the workers to fill them.
Onslow County began the CRC initiative in January 2009. So far, more than 100 high school students in the county have been tested using WorkKeys, with the goal of earning their CRCs.
Laura Payne, human services director at Coastal Carolina Community College (where the program is based), says the school’s target population is unemployed and underemployed people of all ages and skill levels.
“We’re encouraging people of different education levels to look at getting a CRC. It’s an extra credential job seekers can add to their portfolios,” Payne says.
She notes that one target population is military spouses based at nearby Camp Lejeune. Because the CRC is nationally recognized, it is especially valuable for this mobile group.
“Workforce Initiatives is successful because we have lots of partnerships in North Carolina to make this meaningful for communities, businesses and individuals,” Deese adds. “The goal of our programs is to keep workforce development thriving in North Carolina.”
It seems like it’s working. More than 22,000 North Carolinians have received CRCs so far, and Deese hopes to double that number in the next few years.
Story by Kimberly Daly
