Tool to supply skilled workers for industry touted at forum
By Dwight Otwell

A trained and skilled workforce is the primary concern for business and industry in this region, Eric Brinke Friday told a gathering of county and state business and political leaders from Georgia and North Carolina.

"Their biggest challenge is to find employees," Brinke, director of Economic Development for Blue Ridge Mountain EMC, said. "Workforce development is imperative for economic development. Addressing our workforce development gives us a competitive edge."

Brinke made the statements at a Community Connections Forum "A Regional Commitment to Work Readiness" held at North Georgia Tech in Blairsville.

The program concerned a national workforce development assessment system called WorkKeys. Dr. Stephanie Deese, director of Workforce Initiatives for the North Carolina Community College System, said tests are administered to assess the workforce and determine skills needed for certain jobs.

Through job profiling, skill levels necessary to do certain jobs will be identified. Then, jobs can be matched with workers with the skills to do the jobs.

The tests can also identify skill gaps by individuals, who can then receive the exact training and education they need to do specific jobs.

In North Carolina, individuals are certified after taking tests for applied mathematics, locating information and reading for information.

ACT is owner and developer of the SAT test, which is used by most colleges and universities as guides to admitting students. ACT also owns and developed the WorkKey system.

The North Carolina Career Readiness Certificate is an economic and workforce development tool that transcends all populations and all occupations. As individuals receive their Career Readiness Certificate, the information is entered into a statewide database that is accessible through the CRC website (www.crcnc.org). The database provides an up-to-the-minute snapshot of North Carolina's skilled workforce sorted by various geographic criteria.

"This is great for community colleges and career counseling and identifying skill gaps and where people need training," said Deese.

Using the program is a great way to attract and retain industry by providing a much needed workforce, she said. She said that once individuals are awarded the certificate, it isn't meant to be framed and put on the wall. Workers can take the certificate to employers because on the back of the certificate, it shows the person's skill levels.

Fred McConnel, program coordinator for Georgia Work Ready, said that for the program to be successful, businesses will have to get on board and use it.

Deese said two large employers in North Carolina give extra points toward hiring applicants if they have the Career Readiness credential. She said it is the goal in North Carolina to have available on the web established test sites and schedules.

WorkKeys assessments may be taken at one of the participating community colleges or JobLink Centers. JobLink Career Centers will partner with post secondary education to ensure that training and education opportunities are available to meet targeted training needs based on the WorkKeys assessment.

Nearby community colleges where the WorkKeys assessment may be taken include Blue Ridge Community College and Southwestern Community College.