Job Corps

In response to a congressional request, GAO provided information on the Job Corps' Civilian Conservation Centers (CCC), specifically: (1) the costs, job placements, and starting wages for youth after receiving training; and (2) the nature and extent of public service activities performed by CCC and comparably sized Job Corps centers under competitive contract.

GAO found that: (1) the annual per-person costs are higher at CCC than at contract centers due to the types of training provided; (2) positions for trade skills represent approximately 90 percent of the positions at CCC and 30 percent of the positions at contract centers; (3) the cost of living at CCC is higher than at contract centers due to personnel salaries, wages, and benefits and higher food costs; (4) youth who receive training at CCC are more likely to become employed, receive additional training, return to school, or enter the military; (5) youth trained at CCC receive higher starting wages than youth trained at contract centers; (6) CCC are more involved in public service activities than contract centers; and (7) only 61 percent of the public service activities CCC performed were for construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance projects for Job Corps center facilities, as compared to 90 percent for contract centers.