Work Ready Assessments and the O*NET Content Model Framework
WIN Learning's Work Ready Assessments were developed in alignment with the U.S. Department of Labor's O*NET Content Model Framework. O*NET (Occupational Information Network) is the nation's primary source of occupational data, providing a database of hundreds of standardized and occupation-specific descriptors on almost 1,000 occupations covering the entire U.S. economy. The database is continually updated to ensure that all information remains current and accurate.
The new Work Ready Assessment objectives and Achievement Levels represent the most up-to-date indication of career readiness.
The three main assessment objectives in math, reading, and data interpretation are based on the correlation between Job Zones and the required knowledge, skills, and work behaviors associated with specific occupations. Aligning the Work Ready Assessment to O*NET reinforces a common language around career preparation that is already well understood by workforce development across all states.
What is a Job Zone?
There are five Job Zones in the O*NET Content Model Framework. Each Job Zone represents a group of occupations based on the education, training, and experience required, with Job Zone 1 occupations requiring the least amount of education and experience, and Job Zone 5 occupations requiring the most.
Work Ready Achievement Levels
There is not a direct relationship between the Work Ready Achievement Levels and previous assessment levels. The new Achievement Levels are based on current workplace needs and were designed with the O*NET Job Zones Framework in mind.
The Work Ready Credential has four Achievement Levels (2, 3, 4, and 5) that each correlate to an O*NET Job Zone. The chart to the right shows each Job Zone and its corresponding Achievement Level, as well as the percentage of jobs available at each level.
Earning an Achievement Level 2 indicates that a learner has the foundational skills needed to pursue career pathways in Job Zone 2. Earning a higher Achievement Level indicates a learner's readiness to pursue career pathways in higher level Job Zones providing them access to a greater percentage of occupational possibilities.
