KDI Hears Presentation On Workforce Skills Assessment
Posted
Tim Robertson-trobertson@timesuniononline.com
Kosciusko Development Inc. Board of Directors heard a presentation by Steve Anderson, of ACT Inc., at the board's meeting Wednesday.Anderson, a regional manager for ACT, told the board about a workforce assessment program called WorkKeys. Anderson said a major factor in bringing new business to the area and expanding current businesses is the availability of skilled workers to fill new jobs. He said WorkKeys assesses prospective employees' skills in basic skills such as business writing, reading for information, teamwork, observation and listening, and compares it with an assessment of the assessed skill level needed to do specific jobs.
The assessments, Anderson said, help predict a person's ability to learn new skills.
"There's always training," he said. "We're going to show you people who are ready for that training."
Anderson told the board the focus of WorkKeys is to increase the skill level of the workforce and help companies match job applicants to suitable jobs. The WorkKeys training program in Indiana is called Indiana Career Readiness Certification. People entering the workforce can earn gold or silver certifications based on the skill levels they acquire through the program.
Anderson said this helps employers quickly gain an understanding of which job openings may best suit a job applicant.
Anderson told the board the WorkKeys helps reduce turnover, training time, overtime and recruiting time. In Indiana, the program is run through the Department of Workforce Development.
