The Capital Area Workforce Development Board (CAWD) designated Johnston County as a Work Ready Community. The certification recognizes a workforce that is a cut above when it comes to real-world job skills.
“Achieving Work Ready Certification in Johnston County is a tremendous accomplishment for our county and communities,” said Johnston County Economic Development Director Chris Johnson. “This certification shows the commitment of the industry, small businesses, county, towns, chambers of commerce and our economic development and educational partners to provide a viable and educated workforce. With the ever increasing competition for projects both regionally and globally, a strong workforce is becoming an increasingly important piece as we move forward with marketing Johnston County and creating jobs for our citizens.”
To become certified, a county must gather a certain number of business supporters and meet other criteria based on their population, including Career Readiness Certificate (CRC) attainment. A CRC certifies the holder’s skills in reading for information, applied mathematics, and locating information. These skills are required for most jobs, making the CRC a valuable credential as the individual moves between jobs.
Johnston County Public Schools high school students in the Career and Technical Education (CTE) concentration take the ACT WorkKeys exam, which measures foundational skills in math and literacy required for success in the workplace. Students who successfully complete the exam earn a CRC.
Over 6,500 individuals have earned CRCs in Johnston County. Eighty businesses affirmed the value of the credential and contributed to achieving the designation.
Johnston County’s certification comes during a state-wide push by NCWorks, the state’s workforce development effort, to certify communities and work to close the skills gap.
