What is a Work Ready Community (WRC)?
A WRC is a community-wide workforce development ecosystem that:
Links education to workforce development by offering the ACT WorkKeys NCRC in school
Aligns talent preparation with regional economic needs
Helps employers match candidates to jobs based on verified skill levels
Together, these elements create a stronger talent pipeline while helping communities compete for new business and industry.
Tackling the skilled worker shortage
Ford CEO Jim Farley recently highlighted a troubling national trend: 5,000 open mechanic positions at Ford are unfilled because candidates lack necessary skills. This mirrors a widespread shortage across trades and technical fields.
WRCs address this challenge head-on. By using ACT WorkKeys assessments in high schools, colleges, adult education programs, and incumbent worker training, communities help residents validate foundational skills while giving employers access to qualified, job-ready talent.
The result: individuals gain meaningful employment opportunities, and businesses hire employees who have what it takes to train or work from day one.
The WorkKeys National Career Readiness Certificate: The heart of an ACT WRC
At the center of every WRC is the WorkKeys National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC): the credential that turns workforce readiness into measurable, verifiable skill data. The NCRC evaluates three foundational skills employers say are most critical: Applied Math, Workplace Documents, and Graphic Literacy. According to ACT’s JobPro database, these skills are required for about 77% of U.S. jobs, making the NCRC a common assessment tool across education, employers, and workforce systems.
The NCRC delivers clear value:
- Individuals: A portable, nationally recognized credential validating their skills
- Employers: Reduced hiring risk, better job-candidate matching, and upskilling for current employees
- Communities: Skill data that fuels economic development strategies
Strong NCRC participation is essential for earning or maintaining WRC status and it gives leaders the insight they need to shape policy, support industry needs, and strengthen long-term competitiveness.
States are putting WRC status to work
With 31 states plus Guam developing ACT Work Ready Communities, students, educators, workforce development agencies, schools and employers are seeing real growth in the communities in which they live and work. Whether a state has developed many WRCs or is just starting out with one county, assessing workforce skills is boosting local economies.
New York: Oswego County is setting the standard as New York’s first certified WRC
Oswego County Workforce New York holds two free NCRC test sessions a month and provides free prep materials. With over 7,500 NCRCs already earned, this credential boosts Oswego County’s WRC status, helping develop a skilled local workforce. The WRC designation is drawing new businesses in clean energy, construction, and manufacturing, supporting employers with skilled, qualified workers.
WRC in action:
More than half of Arkansas communities participate in WRC initiatives, and in 2022, the Southeast Arkansas Economic Development District of 10 counties became the state’s first work ready region.
Statewide, the Arkansas Economic Development Commission invests in WorkKeys Job Profiling to support businesses statewide. With over 130,000 NCRCs earned, the credential is widely available through workforce centers, high schools, and colleges.
WRC in action:
Louisiana stands out with 54% of its communities participating in WRC achievement, including over 315,000 NCRCs earned, and 1,200 employers supporting the program. With one of the highest numbers of NCRC earners, the state actively ensures that they strengthen their communities as they strive to meet their WRC goals.
WRC in action:
When communities, educators, and employers unite to build and certify a skilled workforce, both people and economies thrive. That’s the power of ACT Work Ready Communities.
And the momentum is growing:
States are putting WRC status to work
With 31 states plus Guam developing ACT Work Ready Communities, students, educators, workforce development agencies, schools and employers are seeing real growth in the communities in which they live and work. Whether a state has developed many WRCs or is just starting out with one county, assessing workforce skills is boosting local economies.
New York: Oswego County is setting the standard as New York’s first certified WRC
Oswego County Workforce New York holds two free NCRC test sessions a month and provides free prep materials. With over 7,500 NCRCs already earned, this credential boosts Oswego County’s WRC status, helping develop a skilled local workforce. The WRC designation is drawing new businesses in clean energy, construction, and manufacturing, supporting employers with skilled, qualified workers.
WRC in action:
- Rachel Pierce, Oswego County workforce director, showcased their WRC certification and what it means to the community on the TalkCNY by Centerstate podcast.
- The Genesee Valley Board of Cooperative Educational Services has opened a testing center to help school districts and workforce development partners access ACT WorkKeys NCRC assessments as their participation in the WRC program grows. Over 100 businesses in Genesee County have already signed up as NCRC supporters.
- The Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce Employer Playbook features ACT Work Ready Communities to highlight the progress the Greater Rochester region is making to become certified, and how the community at large will benefit.
More than half of Arkansas communities participate in WRC initiatives, and in 2022, the Southeast Arkansas Economic Development District of 10 counties became the state’s first work ready region.
Statewide, the Arkansas Economic Development Commission invests in WorkKeys Job Profiling to support businesses statewide. With over 130,000 NCRCs earned, the credential is widely available through workforce centers, high schools, and colleges.
WRC in action:
- Texarkana College and the Texarkana Chamber of Commerce integrate WorkKeys curriculum into workforce programs to prepare students for NCRC success.
- The Delta Regional Authority invested nearly $1 million in workforce projects at Arkansas Northeastern College, Black River Technical College, and the Center on Rural Innovation — boosting training capacity and NCRC participation.
- As an ACT WorkKeys NCRC authorized testing center, Southeast Arkansas College supports communities in achieving ACT Work Ready Community status and students in earning job skill certifications. Additionally, the college collaborates with local employers by aligning job profiles with NCRC levels, ensuring the availability of a qualified and skilled workforce for training and employment opportunities.
Louisiana stands out with 54% of its communities participating in WRC achievement, including over 315,000 NCRCs earned, and 1,200 employers supporting the program. With one of the highest numbers of NCRC earners, the state actively ensures that they strengthen their communities as they strive to meet their WRC goals.
WRC in action:
- Shintech Louisiana, LLC donated nearly $11,000 to River Parishes Community College to expand access to WorkKeys testing.
- MMR, the nation’s largest open-shop electrical contractor, is investing $55.2 million in a new Lafayette Parish facility, bringing 500+ jobs — and Louisiana’s WRCs are prepared with certified talent.
- Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College was named a top vocational school for 2025 by USA Today, with strong outcomes supported in part by its use of the WorkKeys NCRC.
When communities, educators, and employers unite to build and certify a skilled workforce, both people and economies thrive. That’s the power of ACT Work Ready Communities.
And the momentum is growing:
- Over 6.2 million ACT WorkKeys NCRCs earned
- Nearly 600 participating communities
- Close to 30,000 supporting employers
- More than 22,700 jobs profiled for required skill sets