The Department of Economic Development announced today that Missouri will be the first state in the nation to merge occupational employment projections data with ACT’s WorkKeys job skills data. Missourians can use the data to determine which skills are needed in high-growth jobs throughout the state. WorkKeys is part of the ACT college testing organization.
The merged database will consist of statewide 2004-2014 occupational employment projections created by the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC) and ACT’s WorkKeys job skill assessment system. WorkKeys has been used by thousands of employers, educators and workforce developers to hire skilled workers, determine the skills needed in specific jobs, and build the skills of the workforce.
The database estimates employment numbers for more than 700 occupations and projects the level of growth or decline in employment over the next 10 years. Occupational employment projections data are used by employers, job seekers, training providers, and workforce developers to gauge future employment demand. WorkKeys is used to identify job seekers’ levels in three skills necessary for most jobs: reading for information, locating information and applied mathematics.
“Missouri job seekers can now use ACT’s substantial WorkKeys database to determine the occupations for which they’re the most qualified, while also discovering which careers have the highest potential for growth in the coming years,” said Don Carstensen, vice president of ACT’s Workforce Development Division. “ACT’s skill level data represents the analysis of more than 13,000 jobs across the country. Missourians will be able to use this data to determine the skill levels they need for the careers they want.”
The Missouri Career Readiness Certificate (MoCRC) assesses an individual’s skill level in each of the three WorkKeys skill areas to ensure that Missouri workers have real workplace skills and are able to compete in today’s rapidly changing labor market. The skill levels have been profiled against thousands of available jobs and are consistently identified by employers nationwide as essential for prospective employees and those considering advancement. Employers may use any of the nearly 500 occupational profiles developed from job profiles found in the tables on ACT’s website: www.act.org. Job seekers who don’t achieve desirable scores are offered remedial training to upgrade skills.
Greg Steinhoff, director of the Missouri Department of Economic Development, praised the groundbreaking collaboration between the department and ACT. “This unique and innovative collaboration will enable Missouri’s job seekers to identify and hone the workplace skills required by an increasingly competitive workplace. It’s a win-win for Missouri’s employers and potential employees.”
The MoCRC is currently being offered in eight of Missouri’s workforce regions (St. Louis City, St. Louis County, Jefferson–Franklin, Northwest, Southeast, Central, and Kansas City and Vicinity, and East Jackson County). There have been 4,373 MoCRCs issued since October of 2005. There are currently 32 sites statewide where the MoCRC can be attained.
