"Job Readiness" Certification Mandatory in Saskatchewan

I have just come back from Saskatchewan where I spoke to 700 business and government leaders in Regina and Saskatoon. I also took teams out to impact three high schools in Regina.

One of the amazing efforts we saw in that province is the mandatory Job Readiness Certificate (online test) that all 14 and 15-year olds must write and get it signed off by a parent or guardian. It makes good sense - similar to all new drivers having to write a beginner's licence test before they start driving.

I would like to see all provinces and states follow Saskatchewan's excellent example and pass their own legislation requiring pre-employment testing. Is there really a parent or business owner in North America who would disagree?

The Job Readiness certification test is not easy; the authors of the test suggest that students study for at least 5 hours before writing. I wrote the test - just for fun - and I was sweating at the end wondering if I was going to get the required 80% grade! (I did.) There are many questions related to HR that even business owners - such as I used to be - find themselves challenged in answering.

Risk of Post-Test Complacency?

The only downside that I think might be raised is that the fear that new workers, or their employers, might neglect their responsibilities because they have passed the test. But I doubt it will happen often. Good companies will take the time in the first 30 days to communicate what are the responsibilities of every worker.

The upside is clear. But maybe we should educate youth in Job Readiness as early as Grades 7 and 8. The online test would just have to be tweaked to suit each each age.

Nobody has to be reminded that more than 100,000 young workers are reported injured every year in Canada. Enough is enough; let's move forward in educating the next generation in the workplace.

What do you think of the Job Readiness certificate idea; should it be mandatory where you live?