Manufacturers have long known the value of skills certification. Now here’s more proof. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that labor force participation rates are substantially higher for people who have a professional certification or occupational license compared to those without such credentials. In 2018, the U.S. workforce participation rate was 87.7% for workers who had such credentials, compared with 57.8% for those without. Those with certifications or licenses had higher participation rates, regardless of education level. See the BLS chart for the comparisons. 9/5/2019