Work Readiness Credential

Washington State has developed a national Work Readiness Credential (WRC) which defines, assesses, and certifies that individuals can meet the demands of entry-level work. Initiated in response to business concerns about the difficulty in finding qualified applicants, the WRC is based on a cross-industry standard, defined by experts from multiple business sectors, of what entry-level workers need to meet to be successful. This standard includes the ability to:

• cooperate with others
• communicate (orally in English, as well as to read and write)
• solve problems
• resolve conflicts
• take responsibility
• learn
• adapt to change

Although other tests are available to test employability skills, no other assessment tool addresses entry-level work readiness.

Designed to provide a reliable and accurate tool for screening job applicants, the WRC has four modular assessments (math, reading, oral language, and situational judgment). These are conducted by computer through a web-based system to ensure maximum accessibility, security, and ease of use. Although not timed, the test should not take more than two and a half hours to complete.

For more information about the WRC, go to:

http://www.workreadiness.com

http://www.uschamber.com/icw/strategies/workreadinesscredential.htm

or contact:

Mike Hudson, Association of Washington Business, Institute for Workforce Development and Economic Sustainability, mikeh@awb.org

Mike Brennan, Workforce Board, mbrennan@wtb.wa.gov