Fewer Alabama high school graduates earned a workforce-readiness certification through ACT WorkKeys in 2025, according to a new analysis from the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama.
The decline comes as Alabama begins requiring high school graduates to earn at least one college- or career-readiness designation before receiving a diploma. Achieving the required level on WorkKeys is one way students can meet that requirement.
Check out more Alabama news here.
The decline does not necessarily mean students are less prepared for the workforce, PARCA noted. Schools may be relying more heavily on other college- and career-readiness options, changing the group of students who take WorkKeys.
“It’s unclear whether results reflect a change in performance or a change in the pool of students taking the test in light of shifting strategies to ensure all students earn a college and career ready (CCR) designation,” PARCA wrote in the report.
WorkKeys, developed by the same company that produces the ACT college entrance exam, measures foundational workplace skills through three assessments: Applied Math, Graphic Literacy and Workplace Documents.
Unlike the ACT, which is designed as a college entrance exam, WorkKeys measures how reading, math and problem-solving skills are used on the job. Some employers use WorkKeys scores when evaluating job applicants. Alabama has offered, but not required, the test to high school seniors since 2015 as one way students can demonstrate college and career readiness.
Students who score high enough can earn bronze, silver, gold or platinum certificates.
For Alabama’s college- and career-readiness measure, students must earn at least a silver certificate to be considered work-ready through WorkKeys.
Full story.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Trisha Powell Crain and originally published by Alabama Daily News.
Share with others: