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November 8, 2009

Program stresses training

By Jamie Jones, jamiejones@daltoncitizen.com

The last time Gary Brown had taken an in-depth test was in the 1990s.

So you could probably understand why Brown, the Whitfield County building and grounds director, was a bit nervous about the Georgia Work Ready assessment test.

“I was tickled with my results,” Brown said. “To be out of school for so long and to be able to remember the biggest majority of the information was nice.”

The state’s Georgia Work Ready program seeks to improve the skills of workers by gauging their acumen through reading and math tests. Workers are awarded certificates based on their achievement level. Free online training is available. The program can help refine your job skills, whether you’re jobless, want to improve your marketability to employers or are gunning for a promotion.

Whitfield County is trying to become certified by the state as a Work Ready community. Local officials say the designation signals to prospective businesses the community’s workers already have essential job skills. They consider the designation a key economic development tool.

“We want to send the message to the state, country and world that Georgia is serious about work force development,” said Brian Cooksey, manager of operations, training and development for Shaw Industries and chairman of the Whitfield County Workforce Development Committee.

Currently, 139 of 159 counties in the state are participating in the program. Nineteen counties, including Catoosa and Chattooga, have earned the designation. Statewide, Georgians have earned more than 81,000 Work Ready certificates.

For Whitfield County to become a Work Ready community, at least 1,075 residents must earn a certificate. That number must include a mixture of the existing work force, potential work force and unemployed. Also, the high schools must raise their graduation rates by a certain percentage.

Whitfield County has until May 31, 2010, to reach 1,075 residents receiving a certificate. As of last Monday, 222 residents had earned a certificate.

The test takes about four hours. In addition to a tutorial to familiarize you with the computer, there are three sections — applied mathematics, reading for information and locating information — that are 55 minutes each. Results are grouped into four categories: platinum (highest), gold, silver and bronze (lowest).

Brown, who described the test as “very challenging,” scored a silver and two gold levels. He was one point away from having all three gold levels. Brown took online training and a practice test. He plans to re-test to attain all gold levels. He recommends that any worker, no matter his or her job, take the test.

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