creating a culture of innovation the state of michigan’s review of a work readiness credential...

Creating a Culture of InnovationCreating a Culture of Innovation

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


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


Why Consider a Statewide Credential?

Employer demand for qualified candidates

Educators and training providers using assessments

Regional transformation work helping to push the question


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


Committee RecommendationCommittee Recommendation

• Adoption of a statewide work readiness certificate for economic development purposes

• CLEG supported this recommendation


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?


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?


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?


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?


Key DatesKey Dates

• November 7 – Vendor Presentations

• November 15 – Committee Meeting

• December 3 – CLEG Quarterly Meeting


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

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