7/7/2011   Tests, training help build competitiveness of Oklahoma workforce

Oklahoma now offers free site licenses for WorkKeys training

BY PAULA BURKES pburkes@opubco.com
Published: July 7, 2011
Daily Oklahoman

Several employees of Edmond-based Pelco Products Inc., North America's largest traffic signal hardware manufacturer, once struggled with their work. One warehouse order filler, for example, consistently would pull the wrong parts and the incorrect number of parts, and take way too long doing it.

Then, managers had workers take multiple-choice tests — in math, reading and locating information — and quickly learned why some underperformed. “We were asking people to do things they had no way of doing,” operations manager Mark Nash said. “It really showed us what skills employees have and what skills they need for certain jobs.”

Any Oklahoma business now can have free access to KeyTrain interactive online reading and math skills software training programs, along with Career Ready 101 curriculum for customer service and other soft skills. Making the software available is part of an effort led by the Governor's Council for Workforce and Economic Development to build the skills, credentials and competitiveness of Oklahoma workers and businesses. For a free site license, visit OKCareerPlanner.com/KeyTrain.

See the full article here: http://www.newsok.com/article/3583320