Sweetwater County supports WWCC employment initiative

Sweetwater County joined a growing list of entities officially recognizing the ACT Work Ready Communities initiative Western Wyoming Community College is spearheading.

WWCC’s initiative has already been recognized by both chambers of commerce

ACT, the company which authors college entrance exams the county’s high schoolers are familiar with, created a work readiness system aiming to measure a person’s skill level in different areas and help match that person to a job that fits their skill set. The three major skills measured are applied mathematics, reading for information and locating information. Those skills, according to documents from WWCC, are utilized in 77 percent of jobs profiled in the program.

WWCC plans to ask all employers throughout the county to recognize ACT’s career readiness certificate to help Sweetwater County become listed as an ACT-Certified Work Ready Community. Recognition of the program only means that employers understand what the program entails and doesn’t require employers to adopt it.

Carla Leach, president of WWCC, told the commissioners that being listed as a work ready community is something businesses seeking to expand their operations often look for. The certification, according to WWCC documents, also aims to help employers hire the correct employees needed for positions, thus reducing the cost associated with turnovers.

The program also gives human resources tools to companies that do not have a human resources manager.

There are four levels of certification ranging from bronze to platinum level. Prospective employees who do not meet requirements listed for a job can take courses offered through ACT’s KeyTrain and Career Ready 101 programs to fill in the skill gaps identified on their results.

Carole Shafer, director of workforce and community development at WWCC, said the program can be helpful for high school seniors looking to join the workforce once they graduate. The workforce assessment can be taken at the beginning of a senior’s final year in high school to identify what shortcomings they need to address before graduation.