Through the Georgia Work Ready (GWR) initiative, job seekers as well as workers currently employed in Georgia can pursue a Work Ready Certificate to help them better market their skills to current and future employers.

As part of the certification process, individuals complete an assessment that utilizes the nationally accredited WorkKeys® assessment system developed by ACT to measure their core skills and work habits. The three core skills that are highly important to the majority of jobs in the workplace and assessed are: Applied mathematics, reading for information and locating information.

Participating individuals will receive a Work Ready Certificate indicating their level of work readiness based on their performance. The State of Georgia’s goal is to be a Gold Level State. Camden County, one of the fastest growing areas in the southeast, leads this goal with forty-one percent of their workforce at the Gold Level certification. This achievement shows Camden County has a vast and experiences workforce in high-technology, alternative energy, engineering, manufacturing, and research and development.

Work Ready measures skills that employers consider essential to success on the job. Having a skills credential that is locally and nationally recognized facilitates job placement, retention and advancement. This assessment and certification process provides Georgians with an objective view of their talents and areas that need to be improved in order to maximize their chances of having a successful career. Other advantages include:

• Building confidence & skills that meet the needs of local employers.
• Ranking above other job applicants who have not demonstrated needed skills.
• Developing a better understanding of employers' requirements for job performance.
• Determining skill improvements and training opportunities.
• Realizing opportunities for career advancement and promotions.
• Demonstrating on a resume an understanding of the skills employers need.