Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the merits of 6 highly successful employment training programs for economically disadvantaged adults.

GAO found that successful employment training projects: (1) serve adults with little high school education, limited basic skills and English language proficiency, few marketable job skills, and past histories of substance abuse and domestic violence; (2) only enroll students who are committed to completing the job training and seeking full-time employment; (3) ensure that clients are committed to training and getting a good job, and as a result, require them to sign an agreement of commitment outlining their responsibilities; (4) provide child care, transportation, and basic skills training, to enable clients to complete program training and acquire employment; (5) improve their clients' employability through on-site workshops and one-on-one sessions and by developing professional workplace attitudes; (6) have strong links with the local labor market and use information from the local market to guide training options; and (7) aim to provide their clients with training that will lead to higher earnings, good benefits, and overall self-sufficiency.