It appears recruiting local government is the next step for a workforce program in Iowa.
The Skilled Iowa Initiative promotes the National Career Readiness Certificate as a way to gauge the workplace skills of a potential employee.
William Stuflick is regional manager forIowa Workforce Development in southeast Iowa
He says thousands of Iowa businesses, including more than 120 in this region, have agreed to recommend the assessment to job applicants.
Stuflick says the initiative is now being promoted to cities and counties.
“(We want) to really give it some added teeth,” says Stuflick. “As a state agency, we are asking private sector to go out and recognize the certificate and now we are really taking to government groups to say they need to put some teeth into this as well.”
Lee and Des Moines Counties have agreed to support the Skilled Iowa Initiative, but taking the assessment will not be a requirement for employment.
Stuflick says meetings are being lined up with the Boards of Supervisors in Henry and Louisa Counties.
