Skills Needs

Workplace basic skills needs, including literacy skills needs, can be measured, assessed and evaluated using a variety of tools.  Experts are available, usually for-fee, to assist employers who seek help with measuring, assessing and evaluating basic skills needs.

Many tools are available to assist employers, and their partners in measuring, assessing and evaluating employees' basic skills needs in the workplace (including literacy skills).  They range from simple self-assessment diagnostics to elaborate company-wide 360 degree assessments with associated skills testing.

Factors to consider in selecting the right tool for your workplace include:

• Size of training budget

• Cost per employee

• Literacy level of employees

• Degree of employee interest and commitment 

• Time available for evaluation

• Type of skills being assessed

• Union support and co-operation (in unionized environments)

EXPERTS

The American Productivity and Quality Center takes on custom projects for customers seeking information on a vast range of business processes about process improvement, productivity, and quality. Some areas of expertise include Adult Learning, and employee recruitment and retention. 
    URL: http://www.apqc.org

Workforce Learning Systems Training by CASAS provides businesses with training tools and expertise through workshops that determine employee skill levels and basic skill needs, identify training requirements, develop worksite specific training materials and identify instructional strategies to meet training objectives.
     URL: https://www.casas.org/home/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.showContent&MapID=257

The Employability Competency System by CASAS is a structure for evaluating individual's strengths and weaknesses as they relate to employability competencies.  Matching learner needs to instruction programs and evaluating learner progress and competency gains are also part of the system.
    URL: http://www.casas.org/05Employability/05EmployabilityOverview.cfm

The Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training promotes continuing education and training by accrediting primarily for-profit institutions offering either a vocational/professional development courses or vocational programs of continuing education and training.
     URL: http://www.accet.org/

This article on Skills Gaps discusses how to fit training to the specific needs of the individual employee.
    URL: http://www.workforce.com/archive/feature/22/16/72/223541.php

Employers can ask the following questions of managers, supervisors and HR professionals to assess employees’ skill levels and the impact of skill shortages on the workplace.
    URL: http://www.workforce.com/archive/feature/22/17/40/224015.php

TrainingConsortium is a searchable database of training consultants, speakers and vendors. Detailed listings include industry experience, area of expertise, geography and target audiences. Employers can search for trainers who match their needs and specific criteria.
     URL: http://www.trainingconsortium.com

WorkKeys^®, ACT's system for identifying gaps between job requirements and workforce skills can help improve the workforce. Employers can also use it to identify and develop workers for a wide range of skilled jobs.
     URL: http://www.workkeys.com/

A new Guide for Workforce Development Professionals provides program planners and front-line staff at public and private career centers with an introduction to the steps involved in planning, implementing and improving a system of services that helps job seekers who have limited basic skills to meet workplace skill requirements and get and keep rewarding, financially sustaining jobs.
      LINK: ../pdfs/Guide for Workforce Development Professionals.pdf
               (PDF, 2.06 MB)

Companies join the ASTD Benchmarking Forum to benchmark learning and performance improvement processes, practices, and outcomes against the accomplishments of a worldwide network of members.
     URL: http://www.astd.org/membership/forums/benchmarking/

Helping Job Seekers Who Have Limited Basic Skills: A Guide for Workforce Development Professionals (pdf)
This guide provides program planners and front-line staff with advise on helping job seekers, who have limited basic skills, to meet workplace skill requirements so they can get and keep a job.

TOOLS

Training Assessment Kit
Information kit for assessors and workplace trainers on incorporating language, literacy and numeracy skills into Training Packages.
   URL: http://www.anta.gov.au/PUBS/LITERACY/pdfscreen.htm  
    (click on "A New Assessment Tool")

Staffing assessment and testing tools and advice can help employers measure the return on investment of an assessment tool. The formulas will help you gauge the impact of a bad hire, a good hire and turnover to create a more efficient workforce.
     URL: http://www.workforce.com/archive/index.php

Employers can use this sample Training Needs Analysis Report to pinpoint the training needs of staff. The report covers the level of importance of the training, the urgency of the training, and the necessary results.
     URL: http://www.workforce.com/archive/article/23/41/57.php

These tips for hiring an effective trainer can help HR people to  thoroughly evaluate vendors and avoid wasting money on gimmicky training efforts.
     URL: http://www.workforce.com/archive/feature/22/26/14/223471.php

These planning questions will help employers sort out the nuts and bolts of the value of training. The questions, such as who needs training and how training will be assessed, include examples.
     URL: http://www.workforce.com/archive/feature/22/17/10/223931.php

ToolsIndex.com is a free service for Internet visitors to help them find tools-related resources quickly and easily. The section on Skills Tools provides links to skill-building tools for employers and their learning partners.
     URL: http://www.toolsindex.com/skilltool/

Key Survey provides a survey software tool that makes it easy to create a employee skill assessment online. Employers can make use of pre-existing survey templates or create their own employee skill assessment with this survey tool.
     URL: http://www.keysurvey.com

Profiting from Literacy: Creating a Sustainable Workplace
Literacy Program is a recent report that provides information and advice for action to employers working to create, improve and evaluate successful workplace literacy programs.
       Profiting from Literacy (free download)

Senior Service America provides a guide for organizations that assist immigrant seniors entering or re-entering the workforce. Practical advice for working with seniors from culturally diverse backgrounds and on facilitating interactions between immigrant seniors and other staff are included.
     URL: http://www.seniorserviceamerica.org/

CAELA offers a digest on integrating employment skills in adult ESL instruction.
     URL: http://www.cal.org/caela/esl_resources/digests/EskilsQA.html

The Sloan Center on Innovative Training and Workforce Development has developed a Training Manual: "Online Learning Programs for Low Wage Workers within the One-Stop Delivery System".
     URL: http://itwd.rutgers.edu/research/TrainingManual.pdf

This online training tool allows you to create a customized industrial skills assessment test or choose from a growing list of industry-related online assessment tests. Category examples include risk, quality, safety, mechanical, electrical, maintenance and engineering assessments.
    URL: http://www.bin95.com/Employee-Training-Assessments/Industrial_Training.php

The Milestone Tool: Planning a Work-Based Learning Project: by mapping out key elements and activities, this tool guides partners to create a shared vision for work-based learning and acknowledge the supports needed for successful implementation. The tool was created for Jobs to Careers, which supports partnerships to advance and reward the skill and career development of incumbent workers providing care and services on the front lines of the health and health care systems.
    URL: http://www.jff.org/publications/workforce/milestone-tool-planning-work-based-learn/915

The US Department of Labor’s "mySkills myFuture" site is designed to help those with previous work experience match their existing skills to new occupations.
     URL:  http://www.myskillsmyfuture.org/ 

My Next Move is an on-line tool aimed at providing jobseekers with information on more than 900 occupations, as well as local job openings and training opportunities in a simple, user-friendly format.  
     URL: http://www.mynextmove.org/

Steps to Employment (in Ontario, Canada): a series of workshop manuals that are used to orient new immigrants to their new setting and identifies skills required for different industries. Useful material for job-seekers, employers, recruiters, unions and trainers.
     URL: http://www.settlement.org/steps/manuals.html

How to Build Bridge Programs that Fit into a Career Pathway: A Step-by-Step Guide Based on the “Carreras en Salud Program” in Chicago: this manual presents a how-to guide on bridge programs leading to specific careers; and relates specifically to a healthcare program developed for Latinos in Chicago. Can also be replicated with other ABE or ESL populations and adapted to various vocational and technical career paths.
     URL: http://lincs.ed.gov/lincs/resourcecollections/abstracts/workforce/RC_work_abs105

Adult Education for Work: Transforming Adult Education to Build a Skilled Workforce: this guide outlines how comprehensive career pathways can be constructed to better meet the skills required for today’s workforce. In addition to a self-assessment tool for program administrators and providers, the guide also provides benchmarks and promising practices.
     URL:  http://www.jff.org/sites/default/files/adult_ed_work_guide.pdf

Careeronestop provides tools for job seekers, students, businesses and career professionals. In addition, on this site you will find videos about careers, industries, industry groups, skills and abilities, and more.
    URL:  http://www.acinet.org/videos/COS_videos_by_cluster.asp?id=27&nodeid=28

The Work-Based Learning Self-Assessment Tool is designed to help education and employer partners determine how well they have implemented work-based learning. The tool also suggests steps for strengthening current practices.
     URL: http://www.jff.org/publications/workforce/work-based-learning-self-assessment-tool/913

The Sustainability Planning Tool provides educators and employers with sound methods and practices that can be used to sustain a commitment to career advancement for frontline workers. The tool also challenges administrators to think long term about the organizational and budgetary implications of continued workforce development for frontline workers.
    URL: http://www.jff.org/publications/workforce/sustainability-tool/914

Skills Credentialing Tool for Individuals is a self-assessment and portfolio-building tool for students, employees and job-seekers. This free on-line tool helps individuals identify their essential skills and employability attitudes and behaviors. It generates an evidence-based portfolio that can be shared with an employment counselor, instructor and/or workplace supervisor.
     URL: http://conferenceboard.checkboxonline.com/Survey.aspx?s=b5cfd4c7ef204b5cb3e6a6c1f7e07628

Supporting Skills for Life learners to Stick with it!: a guide for managers, practitioners and learners, offering tools for accessing personal and business strategies. It is based on persistence and motivation and provides steps for life learners to “stick with” learning until they achieve their goals.
    URL: http://www.excellencegateway.org.uk/page.aspx?o=164918

Northwest Michigan WORKS!: provides a wide variety of services for youth, job seekers, employers and businesses. It consists of partnerships bringing together governmental and educational agencies, and accesses a multitude of publicly-funded programs.
    URL: http://nwm.org/miworks.asp

Mentoring Formerly Incarcerated Adults: Insights from the Ready4Work Reentry Initiative: this report explores “mentoring” as a tool for supporting the successful reintegration of formerly incarcerated individuals helping them find and retain employment. The Ready4Work program provides newly released inmates with traditional employment and training services; as well as mentoring and other “wraparound” social services which are offered through partnerships among community and faith-based organizations.    
     URL: http://www.ppv.org/ppv/publication.asp?section_id=22&search_id=&publication_id=265

It’s Time to Talk Training – How to develop a dialogue on skills at the workplace: based on the experiences of ten case study organizations, this guide highlights how they established and sustained effective dialogue with their workforce on training.
    URL: http://www.bis.gov.uk/files/file47079.pdf

Building Basics: ESOL Toolkit for General Construction, Landscaping, Painting and Plumbing: a multi-level curriculum for teaching students that have expressed a need to learn English within the context of the construction trades. It provides facilitator materials and learner handouts.
    URL: http://www.valrc.org/publications/buildingbasics/index.html

Preparing for Work: is a skills-based course to prepare individuals for entry level work. The interactive learning activities provide opportunities for learners to explore the skill concepts and to build the knowledge and apply the skills needed to succeed in work.
   URL:  http://eff.cls.utk.edu/PDF/Preparing_for_Work_Overview.pdf 

Work Readiness Credential Profile: lists the skills that new workers in entry level jobs need to be able to successfully carry out.
   URL: http://eff.cls.utk.edu/PDF/WorkReadinessProfile.pdf
 

Breaking Through: Helping Low-Skilled Adults Enter and Succeed in College and Careers: is a guide to developing, sustaining, and expanding strategies that create pathways for low-skilled adults from multiple entry points to occupational/technical certificates and degrees. It can be used by community college leaders and by program leaders and practitioners in adult education, workforce development, developmental education, non-credit continuing education, and occupational and technical credit programs. |
    URL: http://www.jff.org/sites/default/files/BreakingThrough.pdf

Breaking Through Practice Guide: is a compilation of practices developed and implemented by community colleges involved in the Breaking Through initiative from 2005 through 2008. The tools in this guide are designed for use by practitioners to connect adults who have low-level math and/or reading skills with postsecondary credentials leading to employment. The four components of the guide are based on key strategies identified as: accelerated learning, comprehensive support services, labor market payoffs, and aligning programs for low-skilled adults. Of interest is the inclusion of the contextualization toolkit.

   URL: http://lincs.ed.gov/lincs/resourcecollections/abstracts/workforce/RC_work_abs101

Virtual Workroom on Workforce Readiness: provides resources on integrating and contextualizing workforce skills and includes guidelines for establishing successful career pathway programs.
  URL: http://www.calpro-online.org/News.asp#workforcereadiness

electronic Community of Practice: a companion to the Virtual Workroom on Workforce Readiness, it offers a site where eligible educators can expand their professional knowledge and share resources about workforce readiness. 
  URL: http://www.calpro-online.org/News.asp#workforcereadiness

NC Transition Programs: a free on-line course that provides advice and effective strategies for starting a successful transitional program.
    URL: http://www.abspd.appstate.edu/instruction/transition/index.html

Simulated Online/Kiosk Job Application: a simulation training program for offenders (and other groups that don’t have access to the internet) that provides basic information and tips for completing online job applications.

   URL: http://nicic.gov/Library/022996

ARTICLES

Recent research by the National Association of Manufacturers finds that skills shortages are having a widespread impact on manufacturers’ abilities to achieve production levels, increase productivity and meet customer demands.
     URL: http://www.nam.org/s_nam/sec.asp?CID=9&DID=7

Dyslexia at Work: Realising Your Employees' Potential is an article that answers key questions on dyslexia and provides advice to employers on the best ways to create a dyslexia-friendly workplace and to ensure you are meeting key disability legislation.
     URL: http://www.hrzone.co.uk/cgi-bin/item.cgi?id=184367

Strengthening One-Stop Career Centers: Helping More Unemployed Workers Find Jobs and Build Skills: this paper explores the role that One-Stop Career Centers play in helping the unemployed build new skills and find new jobs.   
     URL: http://www.brookings.edu/papers/2009/0402_jobs_skills_jacobson.aspx

For problems or questions regarding this web site contact info@lincs.ed.gov.
Last updated: September 9, 2011.