The National Work Readiness Credential Meeting the Demand for 21 st Century Entry-Level Workers

1. The National Work Readiness CredentialMeeting the Demand for 21st Century Entry-Level Workers

2. The National Work Readiness Credential A national, portable credential that • defines, • measures, and • certifies that jobseekers have the knowledge, skills, and abilities they need to succeed in entry-level work in the 21st Century workplace.

3. The National Work Readiness Credential: A sure start on the path to success • Focuses on a cross-industry foundation of work-ready skills not specific to an occupation. • Measures what a person can do – not how she or he learns. Advanced Leadership Skills Advanced Business Skills Advanced Interpersonal Skills Advanced Technical Skills Basic Work-related Technical Skills National Work Readiness Credential Basic Workplace Skills Basic Workplace Knowledge Basic Employability Skills Lifelong Learning Skills

4. Advantages of the National Work Readiness Credential • Created through a public-private partnership; built to specifications of the business and workforce development systems. • Rigor of design and process ensures the assessment is valid, reliable, and legally defensible. • Assessment supports alignment of all parts of the workforce investment system.

5. National Work Readiness Credential Development and Business Partners • Development Partners: Florida, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Washington, the District of Columbia, and JA Worldwide (Junior Achievement). • Business Partners: National Association of Manufacturers, National Retail Federation, U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

6. The Need for a Credential

7. Business Defines the Skills Gap • A lack of qualified job applicants • 69% inadequate basic employability skills • 32% inadequate reading/writing skills • Skill deficiencies in current employees • 59% inadequate basic employability • 32% poor reading/writing skills • 26% inadequate math skills • 24% inadequate English language skills • 22% inability to work in team environment -- The Skills Gap 2001, National Association of Manufacturers

8. Workforce Skills = Productivity The National Work Readiness Credential is a Workforce Solution to America’s Need for a Competitive Workforce

9. National Work Readiness Credential For Employers A pool of qualified applicants who are ready for job-specific technical training. 40% of job applicants lack the basic skills necessary to perform entry-level work.

10. National Work Readiness Credential For Workforce Investment System A direct link to labor market entry. A common standard of success means programs focus on what’s important. Education & training programs may not teach the soft skills that are a requirement for today’s workplace.

11. Structure of the Credential

12. The National Work Readiness Credential • Focuses on application of knowledge and skills in work-appropriate settings. • Computer-delivered. • Modular, to make it easy to use and customize to local conditions. • Total length: 2 – 2 ½ hours. • Each Module is between 30 – 40 minutes long

13. The National Work Readiness Credential Assessment is… • The first nationally valid work readiness credential that addresses the full range of knowledge and skills critical to competent entry-level work. • Based on the Equipped for the Future Standards • Facilitates instruction and learning • Supports ongoing skill development

14. Assessment Modules Include… • WR-Read with Understanding: 30 min. • WR-Use Math to Solve Problems: 30 min. • WR-Oral Language Test: 30 min. • WR-Situational Judgment Test: 45 min. • Cooperate with Others • Resolve Conflict and Negotiate • Observe Critically • Solve Problems and Make Decisions • Take Responsibility for Learning

15. Resources Work Readiness Credential www.workreadiness.com Chris Myers christopher.myers@labor.state.ny.us