THOMASVILLE — Georgia Work Ready was launched in August 2006 by Governor Sonny Perdue and the Georgia Chamber of Commerce to improve the job training and marketability of Georgia's workforce and drive future economic growth for the state. It is the only initiative of its kind to be conducted through a partnership between a state’s government and a state’s Chamber of Commerce.

Georgia’s Certified Work Ready initiative enables communities to boost their economic development credentials and help their citizens improve their core job skills. When a county receives a Work Ready Proclamation it proves that the county is serious about developing a capable work force, which in turn benefits the entire county and all who reside therein.

There are high standards to earning this designation. The community must demonstrate a commitment to improving public high school graduation rates through a measurable increase, and show that a specified percentage of the available and current workforce has obtained Work Ready Certificates. Each community must create a team of economic development, government, and education partners to create programs to meet the criteria.

Thomas County’s journey to obtain this initiative began in May of 2007. Thomas County worked hard for three years to gain this honor, and along the way 1,044 Work Ready Certificates were earned throughout the county and the graduation rate increased 5.6 percent. Because Thomas County now possesses this designation it allows them to be recognized as a Certified Work Ready community and affix the seal to their documents.

The Georgia Work Ready Certificate Program consists of three assessment tests administered at Southwest Georgia Technical College (SWGTC). The three tests consist of applied math, locating information, and reading for information.

“The assessment tests are a valuable tool in helping employers find qualified employees and helping those who are seeking employment to have in-hand proof that they are indeed ready to go to work and that they have the necessary skills to do the jobs employers need to fill,” said Gary Pitts, Vice President of Economic Development for SWGTC.

“The other benefit to the Work Ready testing is that by becoming a Certified Work Ready Community, we can attract new businesses and industries that will need a skilled workforce,” said Pitts. “The benefits of the program to employers are that it gives assurances that employees have the right skills, it improves hiring procedures, reduces training and turnover costs, increases productivity, and heightens employee morale.”

 Anyone who completes and passes the Georgia Work Ready assessment testing will receive a Georgia Work Ready Certificate. The certificate shows job applicants have the portable skills—reasoning, reading, and basic math—to serve as a foundation for training. It also tells employers that you are ready, willing, and able to work and learn. You can earn this certificate at no charge by taking the assessments at SWGTC.

Gap training is available free of charge to anyone who fails to pass any portion of the assessment tests. “Gap training provides help to individuals who may need extra assistance in some areas to improve on skills they have not quite mastered,” said Pitts. This training is available online at www.gaworkready.org.

Certificate holders have an advantage when applying for jobs, a complement to a diploma and resume. For employees already on the job, a certificate can demonstrate skills needed for a promotion or for training that could lead to greater productivity and effectiveness

Testing takes approximately three hours to complete and is offered Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the main campus in Thomasville and Monday through Thursday at 1 p.m. at the SWGTC Grady County location. Appointments may also be made for special testing times.  For more information, contact SWGTC’s Department of Economic Development at (229) 227-2579.

SWGTC offers more than 80 certificate, diploma, and degree programs. Many of these programs provide training for some of the nation’s fastest-growing career fields including Nursing, Automotive Technology, Clinical Laboratory Technology, and Criminal Justice Technology. More information may be obtained by calling 229-225-4096 or by logging onto www.southwestgatech.edu. 
     Summer Mini-Term classes begin July 6. Remember that SWGTC is converting to the semester system beginning August 22, 2011. Don’t delay, enroll today!

Southwest Georgia Technical College is a unit of the Technical College System of Georgia.