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New skills credential can help employers find the workers
they need
by
Dr. Barbara Bolin
Virginia Business
February
2005
Employers
know that the costs of hiring, training and retaining
workers significantly affect their bottom line. The
cost of making a good hire is high; the cost of making
a bad hire is even greater.
Many
in the private sector are concerned about the gap that
often exists between the skills needed for the job and
the skills held by the work force. Employers sometimes
have difficulty hiring people who have basic employability
skills and are therefore trainable for specific jobs.
Many companies also are dissatisfied with the standard
of employability of high school and college graduates
because their academic abilities are not supported by
necessary work skills.
A widely accepted, easily understood skills credential
would help job placement, retention and advancement
in our mobile society. Because such a credential would
describe exactly what the holder can do, it would be
a terrific supplement to a high school diploma, a GED
or a college degree.
This credential would be an especially useful economic
development tool in areas where the academic achievement
levels of the work force inhibits business development
(such as relocation and expansion).
As part of his “Education For A Lifetime”
initiative, Gov. Mark R. Warner addressed this issue
by authorizing development of the Virginia Career Readiness
Certificate. The certificate is based on three assessments:
applied mathematics, locating information and reading
for information.
Warner launched the Career Readiness Certificate on
Oct. 19, recognizing more than 5,500 Virginians who
had successfully completed the credential. He also praised
a number of employers who had invested in the skills
development of their employees.
If you would like to learn more about this valuable
new credential, please contact the Office of the Special
Advisor for Workforce Development, or visit a Virginia
Workforce Network one-stop career center or community
college near you.
Dr.
Barbara Bolin is special adviser for work force development
to Gov. Mark R. Warner.
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