Georgia Work Ready

1. Georgia Work Ready Debra Lyons, DirectorGovernor’s Office of Workforce Development July 10, 2009

2. Georgia Work Ready is the implementation of the Governor’s vision “We need a system that links workforce development and education together and aligns to the economic needs of the state, its regions and local communities” - Governor Sonny Perdue Feb. 20, 2006

3. Education State Workforce Investment Board Commission for a New Georgia Workforce Development Governor’s Office of Workforce Development Economic Development Workforce development infrastructure

4. Who IS Georgia Work Ready • Georgians • Georgia businesses • Georgia Chamber • State Workforce Investment Board • Alliance of Education of Agency Heads • Georgia state agencies • Local organizations – public and private

5. Work Ready overview • Key elements: • Work Ready Certificate • Work Ready job profiling Match Certificate and job profile outcomes

6. Georgia Work Ready Certificate • Three assessments • Applied mathematics • Reading for information • Locating information • Work Habits assessment only on-line • Issue Certificate based on lowest level earned Certificate WorkKeys Scores Platinum 6s and above Gold 5s and above Silver 4s and above Bronze 3s and above

7. Certificates and Wallet cards

8. Work Habits • Available with on-line assessments • Assesses individual’s Work Habits • Provides analysis in green, yellow and red • Green – Strengths that employer’s value • Yellow – Areas for improvement • Red – Strongly encouraged to develop action plan to change • Results only available to individual • May list strengths on their resume

9. Georgia Work Ready Certificate • How does it benefit Georgians? • Helps them understand work readiness skills and what is meant by moving to a more ‘knowledge based workforce’ • Makes the connection between education and work • Skills gap training will help improve WRC results and graduation test scores • Leads to increase in graduation rate • Level 5 in Applied Math and Reading for Information correlate to college readiness without remediation

10. Georgia Work Ready 2009 Scoreboard Work Ready Certificates by the numbers: • 63,896 Work Ready Certificates (34,194 – 2008; over 24,000 in 2009) • 604 or 1% at Platinum • 12,777 or 20% at Gold • 33,350 or 52% at Silver • 17,165 or 27% at Bronze Georgians with Gold level certificate are able to be trained to fill 90% of today’s jobs Work Ready Certificates by available workforce demographics: • Technical college and college students at 23% Gold • High school seniors at 17% Gold • Unemployed at 17% Gold • GED at 9% Gold

11. GWR Service delivery Georgia’s system of technical colleges support Work Ready via their economic development offices. The technical colleges administer on-line assessments, provide access to gap training and offer job profiling services

12. Work Ready Certificate Holders Source: Georgia Governor’s Office of Workforce Development

13. Work Ready Certificate Holders Source: Georgia Governor’s Office of Workforce Development

14. Work Ready Certificate Holders Source: Georgia Governor’s Office of Workforce Development

15. Work Ready Job Profiles • 36 ACT WorkKeys authorized Work Ready job profilers available to profile jobs to determine skill levels needed • More than 400 occupations profiled on Work Ready Web site – www.gaworkready.org • Sample certificate levels: • Aircraft structure assemblers, precision – Gold • Home health aides – Bronze • Pharmacy technician – Gold • Truck driver – Silver • Ride maintenance technician - Platinum No cost with minimum criteria

16. Using a Work Ready Job Profile Profiles have skill levels for both “entry” and “performance” identified Used for development and training of the existing workforce Job Title: Lead Person, Your Company, Inc. Athens Facility Number of SME Groups: 2 Total Number of Subject Matter Experts (SMEs): 11 Skill Entry Level Performance Level Range Ranking Reading for Information 1 4 4 3-7 Applied Mathematics 4 4 3-7 4 Locating Information 3 4 3-6 3 Teamwork N N N N Writing 3 4 1-5 5 Observation 2 4 4 3-6 Listening N N N N Applied Technology N/A N/A N N Business Writing N/A N/A N N Work Ready job profiles at highest level needed 15

17. Georgia Work Ready • How does it help business? • Common language with education • Ensures emerging workforce to be ‘job ready’ • Reduces hiring costs and turnover • Increase productivity and reduces waste • Used to develop and promote existing workforce • Over 300 companies recognize Georgia Work Ready Certificates • Over 225 job profiles since Jan 2007; 133 in 2008; over 50 in 2009 • Key businesses include Georgia Power, AGL, Best Buy, NCR, WellStar Health systems, others….. • Used by Georgia government • Profile jobs in strategic industries

18. Businesses using Georgia Work Ready Source: Georgia Governor’s Office of Workforce Development

19. Businesses using Georgia Work Ready Source: Georgia Governor’s Office of Workforce Development

20. Available at technical colleges, WIA one stops, public libraries Work Ready skills gap training:Targets for instruction Reflects the skills required according to the job profile Reflects the job seeker’s certification level Gap analysis shows how the person performed relative to the “bar.” Training is available to close any gap.

21. Work Ready overview • Key elements: • Work Ready Certificate • Work Ready job profiling • Certified Work Ready Communities • Work Ready Regions

22. Participating Work Ready Communities 2009 Goal of all 159 counties participating 12 counties Certified!

23. Certified Work Ready Communities • Counties become certified by reaching certificate goals and through step increase in county graduation rate • Two year Re-certification plan • Ensure continuation of available workforce earning WRC • Reach goals for county businesses to recognize WRC along with education credentials • Work Ready Community team membership to local chamber • $2000 credit towards Work Ready outreach materials

25. Georgia Work Ready Regions Career Pathways for Emerging, Transitioning and Existing Knowledge Pre-K, K-12, community colleges, technical colleges, colleges and universities Work ReadinessFoundational Skills Work Ready Certificates, Work Ready job profiles, Work Habits assessment Experience On the job, subject matter expertise, continuing education, specialized training, career pathways

26. Work Ready Regions Each WRR project lead by industry leader

27. Work Ready Regions Goals • Industry Network: Build an industry network throughout region of industries consistent with overall demographics • Close the Regions skills gap • Certified Work Ready Communities: Coordinate and hold accountable county team leaders • Career Pathways: Working with regional education partners develop career pathways for emerging, transitioning and existing workforce • Timely, accurate and meaningful regional workforce data • Sustainability of project through sustaining Industry Network

28. Bio-technician career pathway

29. Transformational strategyand the Georgia Work Ready brand www.gaworkready.org GWR and Recovery

30. Questions? • Contact information: • Debra Lyons, director, Governor’s Office of Workforce Development • Email: dlyons@gov.state.ga.us • Web site: www.gaworkready.org