Pulaski County has once again demonstrated its commitment to workforce excellence. County Clerk Dave Ernst recently accepted an award recognizing Pulaski County’s maintained Certified Work Ready Community (CWRC) status for Program Year 2025, presented by Trish Rogers, Executive Director of the Central Ozarks Private Industry Council (COPIC).
Maintaining this status is no small feat. The Certified Work Ready Community initiative is a nationally recognized program that helps counties identify skill gaps, build talent pipelines, and connect job seekers with employers through the ACT WorkKeys National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC). Missouri leads the nation in CWRC participation, with more than 99 fully certified communities and over 4,500 supporting employers statewide.
The NCRC provides job seekers with an objective, nationally accepted credential that documents their workplace skills across three core areas. WorkKeys assessments are available for free at Central Region Job Centers.
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“Pulaski County’s continued commitment to workforce readiness is exactly the kind of community investment that makes a real difference for job seekers and employers alike,” said Sundi Jo Graham, Communications Coordinator for the Central Workforce Development Region. “We are proud to celebrate this achievement with County Clerk Ernst and the entire Pulaski County community.”
Earning and maintaining Work Ready Community status requires collaboration across local government, economic development, business, education, and workforce partners. It signals to employers that Pulaski County has a skilled, credentialed workforce ready to meet the demands of today’s economy.
For more information about the National Career Readiness Certificate or to schedule a free WorkKeys assessment, contact your local Job Center.