Multiple Employment Training Programs

A strong internationally competitive economy depends, in part, on effectively preparing workers to compete in the workforce. Over the years, the federal government has invested considerable efforts and resources in programs that facilitate entry into the workforce, help workers overcome barriers that impede their ability to compete for jobs, and assist dislocated workers in reentering the workforce. GAO found that the multitude of existing government-run employment training programs targeting the poor, dislocated workers, older workers, and youth overlap considerably in their goals, clients, services, and service delivery mechanisms. These redundancies foster inefficiencies and make it hard to determine the effectiveness of specific programs or the system as a whole. As Congress considers program consolidation, GAO emphasizes that identifying the extent of similarity among programs is only the first step. Determining which programs should be considered for consolidation requires more extensive study and decisions on participant eligibility and the level of services provided by any new program resulting from consolidation.

GAO found that: (1) 30 of the 38 programs it reviewed share common program goals, target comparable clients, provide similar services, and use parallel delivery approaches; (2) program administration is scattered among several federal agencies; (3) programs operating at the local level often share resources and provide assistance to clients enrolled in other programs, sometimes to the extent that it is difficult to determine the effectiveness of individual programs; and (4) consolidation of the overlapping programs and decisions concerning participant eligibility and the level of services provided under a new consolidated program require more extensive study.