ACT, Inc. Announces Business Use of Work Keys Doubles; Tight Labor Market Increases Need for More Effective Hiring Tools, Targeted Training Programs.

IOWA CITY, Iowa--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 18, 1998--ACT, Inc. (formerly American College Testing) announced this week that the number of businesses using its Work Keys(R) system increased more than 100 percent over the past year. The Work Keys system features job profiling, skill assessments and targets for instruction to assist companies in their efforts to attract, train and retain qualified workers. ACT attributes the dramatic increase in usage of Work Keys to the business community's recognition of its ability to deal with problems caused by the labor shortage.

"This large increase in the number of businesses using the Work Keys system shows corporate America is responding to a clear and powerful mandate being sounded across the country: Put an end to the labor shortage before it puts an end to America's economic well being," said ACT, Inc. President Richard Ferguson.

The recent passage of the Workforce Investment Act demonstrates government's concern over the labor shortage's potential negative impact on the otherwise robust United States economy.

"(This bill) will provide businesses with the skilled employees they need to compete in a global high tech economy. Above all, it will make sure that as our economy moves into the 21st century, our job training system does, too," said Secretary of Labor Alexis M. Herman.

Companies are starting to realize that they are not powerless against the tight labor market. Many are beginning to take action by expanding traditional recruiting and training programs to include a stronger focus on workforce development. Through this focus on workforce development as a strategic business investment, companies are becoming involved not only with increasing the skill levels of current employees, but also in broader, community-wide initiatives designed to increase the overall pool of qualified workers.

"Recruits are not as plentiful as they once were; the competitive job market requires that companies clearly define the skills that they need in employees and cast a wider net in their recruiting efforts," said Karen Johnson, Interim Director of Human Resources, ConvaTec (a Bristol-Myers Squibb Company). "The challenge is not merely to fill positions, but to identify candidates who have the appropriate basic skills as well as the potential to further develop their skills to meet the company's growing needs. Work Keys helps us meet these goals as well as improve training and educational efforts for both our employees and our community."

In a recent address, Commerce Secretary William Daley expressed his support for workforce development efforts. "Education and training must be a high priority... We need to help people make the shift into changing jobs... Nothing is more important to our ability to compete in this world than to have a highly skilled, well educated workforce," Daley noted.

About Work Keys

ACT's Work Keys is the first national system to improve the quality of America's workforce. It serves as a common language to help individuals, educators, employers, policymakers, and labor organizations make informed employment decisions. ACT provides skill assessments, job analysis, research and reporting services. It also develops customized training evaluation tools for business clients.

Thousands of companies across the United States and Canada have experienced the benefits of Work Keys in a broad range of high technology, manufacturing, service, and retail environments. Work Keys enables business, education, and government to work together in the first-ever national effort to improve "America's Winning Workforce."

Work Keys is available directly from ACT or through a network of more than 200 service centers. For more information, call 1-800-WORKKEY or visit our website at http://www.act.org/workkeys/

    CONTACT: ACT, Inc.
              Rose Rennekamp, 319/337-1156
              or
              Edelman Public Relations Worldwide:
              JoAnne Laffey, 312/240-2706
              e-mail: [e-mail]