WorkKeys®

The WorkKeys^® system provides employers, schools, students, and community organizations with a common language for building a higher-skilled, higher-paid workforce. Using WorkKeys . . .

• Employers can identify and develop workers for a wide range of skilled jobs, both professional and technical.
• Students and workers can document and advance their employability skills.
• Educators can tailor instructional programs to help students acquire the skills employers need.

The WorkKeys system uses job profiling combined with WorkKeys assessments, instructional guidance, and reporting to help students and workers identify their strengths and weaknesses as they pursue their education and career goals. This enables them to make appropriate decisions about jobs.  

What skills does WorkKeys measure?

WorkKeys assessments measure nine foundational workplace skills:

Applied Mathematics Applied Technology Business Writing Listening Locating Information

Observation Reading for Information Teamwork Writing

WorkKeys also measures soft skills:

• Performance — a job applicant's tendency toward unsafe behaviors and attitudes toward work
• Talent — characteristics such as dependability, assertiveness, and emotional stability
• Fit — the interests and values that determine the fit between a candidate and occupations in an organization

What kinds of jobs are profiled?

WorkKeys is used for white-collar professional jobs as well as jobs on a shop floor.   More than 15,000 unique job titles, ranging from accountant to automotive technician and from welder to webmaster, have been profiled.   WorkKeys is also the foundation of the ACT National Career Readiness Certificate, a nationally recognized credential for job seekers.  

What companies are using WorkKeys?

Thousands of companies across the United States and worldwide have experienced the benefits of WorkKeys in a broad range of high technology, manufacturing, service, and retail environments. WorkKeys has been used in virtually every industry. Review these examples of case studies to see how companies have used WorkKeys.  

What benefits have companies that use WorkKeys experienced?

Companies that use the WorkKeys system to assess their incoming and current workforce typically achieve substantial benefits, including:

• Improved employee selection and advancement procedures
• Reduced overtime
• Reduced turnover
• Increased productivity
• Fewer legal challenges over hiring processes
• Higher employee morale

For specific examples, see case studies.  

Why should students, parents, and educators care about these tests?

All students enter the workforce eventually—whether they get a job right out of high school, work part-time while continuing their education, or go through extensive postsecondary training. WorkKeys stresses skills development important for virtually every type of employment. In fact, the fastest growing segments of the WorkKeys job analyses are being done for professional, technical, and managerial jobs that require at least a bachelor's degree. The abilities to learn, listen, communicate, work in teams, and solve problems—all areas addressed by WorkKeys—are important assets for any employee, regardless of career choice. They are also extremely important in today's higher education.