The Official Web Site of the State of South Carolina

South Carolina businesses, are you actively working with young people to amplify the workforce? If yes, we invite you to nominate your business for the 2026 Workforce Champion Award by visiting www.dew.sc.gov/workforce-champion-award!

 

Visit https://dew.sc.gov/scwork-photo-contest to submit a photo of employees at work and enter for a chance to be selected as the 2026 SC@Work Photo Contest Grand Prize Winner! Don't miss this opportunity to showcase your team in action. 

 

 

SC Career Readiness - Employers

Align skills with jobs. Hire with confidence. 

Overview for Employers 

The SC Career Readiness Program is designed to strengthen workforce readiness and support employer hiring needs. It is administered by the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce (DEW).

The statewide program provides employers with tools to align skills with job requirements, while helping jobseekers build and demonstrate essential workplace skills through validated assessments and credentials. This coordinated approach strengthens and prepares the state’s workforce to attract higher-wage jobs and support economic growth.

Worldwide Interactive Network (WIN) Learning, a contracted provider, collaborates to deliver the program’s educational software, assessments, credentials, and job analysis tools. These tools are made available through a network of approved partners across the state.

The SC Career Readiness Program is a work readiness program that supports employers by aligning job requirements with validated skills. Through assessments, credentials and Job Analysis, employers gain tools to strengthen hiring, onboarding, and workforce development.

The SC Career Readiness Program includes six assessments, courseware, or educational software to help individuals prepare for each, and a job analysis tool to help employers determine the achievement level required to perform a particular job function. The assessments and educational software are made available to jobseekers at no cost through SC Works centers and partner locations. The job analysis tool is also available to employers at no cost through the SC Career Readiness Program.

Who does the SC Career Readiness Program serve?

Employers

  • Employers seeking skilled, job-ready candidates
  • Employers looking to strengthen hiring and training outcomes
  • Organizations building a stronger workforce pipeline

Jobseekers

  • Individuals preparing to enter the workforce
  • Workers seeking advancement or career change
  • Workers seeking better opportunities
  • Students and recent graduates
What does the SC Career Readiness Program offer?
  • Courseware, or educational software to build foundational and job-related skills
  • Assessments that measure workplace readiness and skill proficiency
  • Credentials to validate skills that employers value
  • Job Analysis to align skills with real job requirements
  • Statewide access through approved testing sites
What is the Job Analysis?

The WIN Job Analysis is a thorough and unbiased job analysis model that is designed to help employers source the right candidates, set appropriate selection standards, and hire and advance the most suitable individual for the job. The process involves in-depth analysis of the job by subject matter experts to make a reasoned determination of job tasks, and identification of the WIN Learning foundational skill areas (Math, Reading and Data) and achievement levels required to successfully perform the job. 

What are the four types of Career Readiness credentials offered?

The SC Career Readiness Program offers four industry-recognized credentials that validate foundational workplace skills and competencies valued by employers across a wide range of occupations.

  • Work Readiness Credential that validates foundational academic skills in math, reading, and data that are essential across a wide range of occupations. This credential may be earned upon successful completion of the Academic Skills Assessments.
  • Essential Soft Skills credential that validates proficiency in foundational work habits and situational judgment skills for most jobs. This credential may be earned upon successful completion of the Essential Soft Skills Assessment.
  • Digital Skills Credential that validates proficiency in essential workplace technology skills across a wide range of occupations. This credential may be earned upon successful completion of the Digital Skills Assessment.
  • Professional Soft Skills Credential that validates proficiency in both workplace behaviors and digital competencies. This credential may be earned upon successful completion of the Professional Skills Assessment, a combination of the Essential Soft Skills and Digital Skills Assessments.

Academic Skills Assessments    Soft Skills Assessments    Digital Skills Assessments

How do jobseekers or existing employees prepare for the SC Career Readiness Assessments?

Courseware, or educational software, is available for each of the Career Readiness Assessments to teach these fundamental skills and help individuals prepare for the assessment.

Academic Skills Courseware    Soft Skills Courseware    Digital Skills Courseware

How do employers benefit from the SC Career Readiness Program?
  • Improve hiring decisions
  • Hire with confidence by aligning needed skills, credentials, and job requirements
  • Reduce training time and cost
  • Fill a reliable talent pipeline
  • Identify skills needed for specific jobs
  • Build cohesive, high-performing teams with reduced turnover and a harmonious and productive workplace
If I am an employer, how do I get started with the SC Career Readiness Program?

Email SCCareerReadiness@dew.sc.gov for information and guidance on how to apply for a Job Analysis. 

How do I contact one of the statewide, approved testing sites?

Click here to view contact information for each of the approved testing sites in South Carolina.

Where do I find an overview of the SC Career Readiness for jobseekers?

Click here to find an overview of the SC Career Readiness Program for jobseekers.