RochesterWorks! has been offering a portable, foundational skills credential based on the WorkKeys assessment system to job seekers and businesses since January 2008.

This Career Readiness Credential (CRC) assesses foundational skills in the areas of Applied Mathematics, Locating Information, and Reading for Information, providing a common language that employers, job seekers, and educators can use to identify a potential candidate?s trainability.

RochesterWorks! has been actively working with local employers to increase awareness of how the CRC can increase ROI, and how youth and community-based programs can identify trainable candidates.

• Over the course of the year, 361 individuals have been assessed using the WorkKeys system, with the number of individuals wanting to take the assessments rising each month.
• Of these individuals, 44% have scored at the Silver Level, reflecting trainability for 65% of jobs profiled by ACT.
• 18% have scored at the Gold Level and 21% at the Bronze Level.
• Individuals who do not meet the minimum criteria needed for a credential or those wishing to improve their scores can take advantage of on-line training through the KeyTrain system which is available at no cost to RochesterWorks! members.

The Career Readiness Credential is gaining national momentum by promising to increase economic competitiveness through a stronger workforce. In January 2004, with leadership from Virginia, seven states formed the Career Readiness Certificate Consortium (CRCC). As of October 2008, the total number of states (including Washington D.C.) in the CRCC is 46, and more than 500,000 certificates have been issued nationwide.

Learn more about how the CRC can help your business or your career!