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The State of Michigan’s Review The State of Michigan’s Review of a Work Readiness Credentialof a Work Readiness Credential
Alisande HenryAdministrator for The Council for
Labor & Economic Growth
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The Council for Labor & Economic Growth (CLEG)
CLEG is an advisory body within the Department of Labor & Economic Growth established to recommend innovative workforce development strategies for the State of Michigan
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Why Consider a Statewide Credential?
Employer demand for qualified candidates
Educators and training providers using assessments
Regional transformation work helping to push the question
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CLEG Work Readiness CLEG Work Readiness Credential CommitteeCredential Committee
• Accelerating ReemploymentMatt Chambers, Three Rivers Health – Chair
• Increasing Educational AttainmentMichael Schmidt, Ford Motor Company Fund – Chair
• Additional input from DLEG, MEDC, and MDE staff members
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Charge to CLEG CommitteeCharge to CLEG Committee
Recommend whether Michigan should create/adopt a statewide Work Readiness Certificate (WRC) and, if so, help design and implement the new system
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Summary of ResearchSummary of Research
– Survey of Michigan Works! Agencies
– Conversations with WIRED regions– What’s happening/has happened
in other states– Survey of Michigan employers
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Michigan Works! AgenciesMichigan Works! Agencies Survey Results Survey Results
• All 25 MWAs responded to the survey• 76% see value in creation or adoption of
statewide WRC• 72% of MWAs are currently using some
type of assessment tool• 80% of MWAs see “soft skills” as most
important
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WRC State Research ResponsesWRC State Research Responses
• Reasons for adopting a WRC:Reasons for adopting a WRC:– Promotes a common standard,
uniformity, & language– Used as an economic development tool– Ability to quantify and qualify skills of
workforce– Means to measure the workforce– Verifies attainment of worker skills
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WRC State Research ResponsesWRC State Research Responses
• Reasons for not adopting a WRC:Reasons for not adopting a WRC:– Difficulty in employer buy-in and
recognition of WRC– May “label” individuals– Disagreement among local areas– Areas with local WRC not in favor of
statewide assessment due to success with locally developed tools
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Employer Survey ResponsesEmployer Survey Responses
• STATEWIDE• 161 responses to survey• 55% said they would find
a statewide WRC valuable
• More than half of survey (59%) respondents not currently utilizing an assessment tool/test for hiring
• WIRED REGIONS• 91 responses to survey• 45% said they would
find a statewide WRC valuable
• More than half of survey respondents (56%) not currently utilizing an assessment tool/test for hiring
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Employer Survey ResponsesEmployer Survey ResponsesMost important criteria to considerMost important criteria to consider
• STATEWIDE• Cost to employers• Connection to employee
retention or productivity• Ease of use by
employers• Assessment of soft skills
• WIRED REGIONS• Ease of use by
employers• Cost to employers• Connection to
employee retention or productivity
• Statewide or national acceptance
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Committee RecommendationCommittee Recommendation
• Adoption of a statewide work readiness certificate for economic development purposes
• CLEG supported this recommendation
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Next StepsNext Steps
• The committee is inviting vendors to answer questions about their tool:
• What skills does the tool assess?• What is the target population for the assessment?• Who is the issuing body for the results?• Are assessment results statistically valid and reliable?• How broadly is the tool used (both in terms of
geography and the number of employers and educators users)?
• What remediation training is included with this assessment?
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Next Steps, continuedNext Steps, continued• What accommodations are made for test-takers with
disabilities?• Has there been a formal evaluation of the tool’s impact on
employee retention or productivity and if so, what impact has there been?
• What other feedback has been received from employers regarding the assessment?
• How easy is it for employers to use this assessment tool?• What is the cost (to employers or other entities) of using this
tool?• What vendor support, technical assistance (and associated
costs) are offered with this assessment?
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Questions for WorkKeys UsersQuestions for WorkKeys Users
• Was it difficult learning how to use WorkKeys?• Was it difficult getting employers, individuals, and
education & training providers to understand the value of WorkKeys and a work/career readiness credential?
• How did you get the word out to employers?• What questions still exist around soft skills
assessments and how are these questions being addressed?
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Questions, continuedQuestions, continued
• Where is the testing being done within regions and local areas?
• Who grades the assessment?• Who pays for the testing and how are costs
managed?• What would you do differently?• What recommendations/advice do you have for the
state if WorkKeys is selected as a statewide assessment tool?
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Key DatesKey Dates
• November 7 – Vendor Presentations
• November 15 – Committee Meeting
• December 3 – CLEG Quarterly Meeting
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For More Information:Alisande E. Henry, Administrator
Council for Labor & Economic GrowthMI Dept. of Labor & Economic Growth
PO Box 30004Lansing, MI 48909
Phone: (517) 241-2336Fax: (517) 241-8493
[email protected]://www.michigan.gov/cleg