Marcia Hultman

Cabinet Secretary

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National Career Readiness Certificate

Benefits for Employers

Hiring

The NCRC reliably measures core employability skills to ensure you hire only the most qualified, trainable candidates. Don’t consider it a way to eliminate applicants; instead, use the NCRC as a tool to match applicant skill sets to your hiring needs.

Training and Promotion

You will decrease training time and costs by hiring people who have verified their skills and have the foundational basis for training .You will then be able to target your training budget for job-specific skill training, rather than basic foundational employability skills. You can also use the possession of the NCRC as a “preferred” factor to help make promotion decisions.

Retention

The NCRC will help in reducing employee turnover by ensuring employees have the basic skills necessary to be effective on the job and make a good match the first time. It takes a certain level of motivation to complete the NCRC which can be an insight into the applicant’s seriousness and commitment of staying on the job.

Recognizing the NCRC

The NCRC is a versatile tool you can recognize in your hiring practices. The following are ways you might utilize this credential:

Recognize the certificate when presented by an applicant
Recognize certificate possession as a motivation or soft skills indicator
Accept the certificate in lieu of a high school diploma or GED® credential
Match verified skills with necessary job skills to ensure the right fit
Prefer the certificate on one or more job postings
Use the certificate in promotion decisions

ACT has one of the largest, most robust occupational profiles databases available. More than 20,000 positions have been profiled by ACT-authorized job profilers. Extensive research has identified the essential skills and skill levels for each job. That information can be used in employee selection, hiring, and training. Employers can identify the skills needed for their employees to be successful on the job by accessing the occupational profiles database.

Using the NCRC for Economic Development

Establishing strategies that create jobs and raise wage rates is the primary mission of economic development. Information generated by adopting the National Career Readiness System helps states and regions fulfill this mission by:

Documenting workforce quality for relocating and expanding businesses
Providing local businesses with a better-trained workforce
Helping employers plan and address existing and future employment needs

By participating in the NCRC project and completing the WorkKeys Assessments, organizations can gather data identifying foundational skill levels. This skill level data can be used to target training efforts, improve high school graduation rates, educate individuals and businesses regarding the value of an NCRC, or address other specific local workforce issues. Utilizing the NCRC system not only identifies the skills necessary for a qualified workforce, but also provides a framework for maintaining or improving those skills.

The availability of skilled labor is a major factor in helping business executives and economic development consultants identify the best locations for expansion and relocation. Information generated by the National Career Readiness Certificate represents a unique source of objective data describing workforce skills. This makes it a powerful component in strategic planning and marketing activities at the local, regional or state levels.

Skill-based Hiring Webinar

In partnership with the South Dakota Retailers Association, a webinar on Skill-based Hiring with the National Career Readiness Certificate was held on Aug. 16, 2016. View the archived recording for an overview, sample WorkKeys questions, hiring advantages and testimonials.

Employer Support

South Dakota employers who would like to join the effort in recognizing, recommending or preferring the NCRC as a way to ensure the hiring of a certified and skilled workforce should complete the NCRC Recognition Form (Adobe PDF format). By completing, signing and submitting the signed Recognition Form, you will grant us permission to use your name in public awareness efforts to promote the National Career Readiness Certificate. For example, your business or agency will be added to the list below of South Dakota employers supporting the NCRC.

Employer List

The employers, listed by state and county, are standing up for a skilled workforce by recognizing, recommending or preferring the NCRC in South Dakota.

South Dakota

Other States (companies with South Dakota ties and additional locations in surrounding states)

SOUTH DAKOTA

South Dakota County Index
A B C D E F G H J K L M P R S T U W Y Z

Aurora County
City of Plankinton
City of White Lake
Horizon Health Care Inc
Navigant
Plankinton High School
White Lake School