WORKING TOGETHER ACT® WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS and the

WORKFORCE INNOVATION and OPPORTUNITY ACT

The federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) supports state and local programs that use industry-recognized certifications to

connect job seekers with employers.

What Does This Mean for Users of ACT Workforce Solutions?WIOA funds can be used for ACT workforce solutions (skill assessment and career credentialing) because they ensure that individuals have foundational skills needed for job-specific training.

Source: ACT Policy Paper, January 2018, The ACT® WorkKeys® National Career Readiness Certificate® and the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act

Why?Because WIOA Performance Measures focus on occupational credential attainment, and the ACT® WorkKeys® National Career Readiness Certificate® (NCRC®) stacks with other credentials and improves training success.

ACT data show an increase in success when the WorkKeys NCRC is used as an indicator of readiness for training in programs that lead to an occupational credential. This helps to boost credential attainment results.

The BIG PictureThe US Department of Labor has measures for effectiveness in serving employers under WIOA that demonstrate:

• Providing employers with skilled workers

• Providing quality services and engagement to all employers and sectors in state or local economies

• Delivering high-quality engagement and services to employers and sectors over extended periods of time

WorkKeys solutions can assist in improving these metrics.

WorkKeys NCRC/Foundational Skills

Competency-Based Program of Study Occupational Credential

Employer Information

WIOA EMPLOYER METRICS

Employer Support Services

Engaged in Strategic Planning/Economic Development

Accessing Untapped Labor Pools

© 2018 by ACT, Inc. All rights reserved. MR02592

How Can a Community Improve WIOA Employer Metrics Using ACT Workforce Solutions?

Training Services

Incumbent

• Include aggregate WorkKeys NCRC outcomes in information shared

• Provide information on accessing WorkKeys solutions

• Use WorkKeys assessments to identify candidates

• Use ACT WorkKeys Job Profiling outcomes to identify job requirements

• Are used in pre-employment testing

• Include WorkKeys Job Profiling

ACT® Work Ready Communities (WRC) support employers by:

• Organizing by size and industry sector

• Leveraging common industry sector employers into industry networks for economic development planning

• Growing industry engagement

Leverage larger supporting employers in WRCs to connect to pipeline development activities for target demographic groups

• Including special demographic groups earning the WorkKeys NCRC and improving skills as needed

Align/leverage the WorkKeys NCRC as an entry-level credential for training programs to reduce training time and increase program completion success

Leverage information received from ACT Job Profiling to develop on-the-job training programs that lead to a WIOA-approved occupational credential

ACT WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS

To view a webinar on how to use WIOA funds and ACT Workforce Solutions in your community, go to https://pages2.act.org/wioa-webinar-feb2018.html.