Author: South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce
This article originally appeared in the Summer 2026 issue of the South Carolina CPA Report
In 2023, the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce (DEW) expanded its offerings for employers and jobseekers through its partnership with Worldwide Interactive Network (WIN) Learning, a leading provider of workplace preparation resources. The South Carolina Career Readiness Program is a work-readiness program administered by DEW that supports the hiring needs of employers.
The program bolsters workforce development by providing jobseekers with opportunities to develop, assess, and demonstrate workplace skills through training resources, assessments, and credentials, while providing employers with tools to identify, evaluate, and align skills with job requirements. The goal of the program is to strengthen hiring, onboarding, and talent development efforts statewide.
DEW partners with WIN Learning to supply the program’s educational software, assessments, credentials, and job analysis tools. The SC Career Readiness Program provides services through a statewide workforce partner network, available at no cost, that supports both jobseekers and employers.
Courseware
Courseware is an online curriculum that helps learners and jobseekers prepare for the Work Ready, Essential Soft Skills, and Digital Literacy assessments. This self-paced instructional content is designed to build foundational academic, professional, and digital skills. Courseware can be used to prepare for testing, or as targeted support to increase scores in specific areas after initial test results are received.
Assessments
There are five assessments designed to measure essential employability and foundational skills directly tied to workplace success. These assessments evaluate how well jobseekers can apply various skills in workplace settings.
Work Ready Math
Measures mathematical reasoning skills to solve real-life workplace problems
Work Ready Reading
Evaluates ability to read, understand, and interpret written workplace text such as memos, schedules, company policies, and technical manuals
Work Ready Data
Tests ability to understand and interpret workplace data presented in forms, workflows, diagrams, charts, and graphs
Essential Soft Skills
Assesses entry-level work tasks and behaviors in four key areas
- Communicating Effectively
- Conveying Professionalism
- Promoting Teamwork and Collaboration
- Thinking Critically and Solving Problems
Digital Literacy
Appraises digital literacy, which refers to the ability to find, evaluate, use, create, and communicate information using digital technologies
Credentials
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 proves 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 (math, reading, and data).
Essential Soft Skills Credential confirms 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 demonstrates competency 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 verifies abilities 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.
Job Analysis
The Job Analysis is a thorough, unbiased model designed to help employers identify 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 to identify the WIN Learning foundational skill areas (math, reading, and data) and achievement levels required to successfully perform the job.
DEW offers free WIN Job Analyses on a first come, first served basis until program funding is exhausted. To learn more about how the program supports employers to identify and align workforce skills with job requirements to make confident hiring decisions, visit: dew.sc.gov/sc-career-readiness-employers. Also available on the SC Career Readiness webpage for employers is information on Courseware, assessments, credentials, and a list of statewide, approved testing sites.
Employers may also email SCCareerReadiness@dew.sc.gov for information and guidance on how to apply for a Job Analysis.
