WorkKeys proving to be valuable asset for employers

Huddled over a small television, a Nestle employee watches an observation video demonstrating food preparation techniques.

The video shuts off inside a conference room at the Cherokee Community Learning Center. The Nestle employee is then tested on observation skills, memory and attention to detail.

This is one of many examples on how WorkKeys is being used on the local and national level in today's job market. Introduced in 1992, WorkKeys is a series of 12 tests used to help companies evaluate the job skills of workers during the hiring process.

Nestle, one of Cherokee County's largest employers, is using the observation assessment to help evaluate the ability of potential new employees to perform highly detailed food preparation work in a team setting.

The Cherokee County Adult Education Program has been offering the Work Keys program since 1995. A total of 259 certificates were awarded to county residents last school year.

"Everyone can benefit from taking WorkKeys," Cherokee County Adult Education teacher Kimberly Lesvesque said. "It's an objective way to measure basic job skills so that you can help an individual grow to the next level."

The vision for the WorkKeys system emerged in the late 1980s and was introduced by the ACT in 1992.

ACT spokesperson Katie Wacker said the system was developed as the testing company's response to a series of research reports predicting critical shortages of highly skilled workers.

"The predictions were based on mounting evidence that the American workforce would be impacted by demographic shifts including the retirement of the baby boomer generation, the transition to a knowledge economy, and increasing demands on the public education system," Wacker said.

ACT worked with educators and employers to develop WorkKeys to provide a standard way for identifying and testing the skills workers need to perform specific jobs. WorkKeys is in active use in all 50 states. South Carolina is among 33 states where residents can earn a National Career Readiness Certificate by completing tests in the areas of applied mathematics, reading for information and locating information. Residents can earn a gold, silver or bronze certificate based on their scores. Gold is the highest level.

Just like college entrance exams, WorkKeys tests can be taken multiple times to improve a person's score.

"WorkKeys provides a 'common language' among educators, employers and individuals," Wacker said. "Rather than saying 'we need more math,' businesses can be more precise, saying '80 percent of our new hires need math skills at a Level 4 or higher.'"

Having high job skills means having access to higher paying jobs.

According to ACT research, jobs that require the lowest Applied Mathematics skill level usually pay beginning salaries of about $16,000. On the other hand, occupations that require the highest Applied Mathematics skill level typically pay beginning salaries of about $30,000.

"Across the nation, thousands of businesses have used WorkKeys to make better hiring decisions and to target training to the specific needs of the employee," Wacker said. "Whether you're looking for a job now, or seeking a certificate to bolster your credentials, earning a National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC) gives you proof of your job skills. This is an advantage when applying for jobs, a complement to a diploma and resume."