Multiple Employment Programs

GAO reviewed federally supported employment and training assistance programs available to out of school youth or adults not enrolled in advanced degree programs. GAO found that: (1) 125 federal programs provide various forms of employment and training assistance totalling $16.3 billion; (2) specific programs are funded from different sources and are counted more than once; (3) the Department of Education administers 49 programs, totalling $8.1 billion, and the Department of Labor administers 30 programs, totalling $5.7 billion; (4) most programs target specific disadvantaged populations, provide counseling and assessment, occupational training or job placement, and overlap in target populations; and (5) reducing overlapping services and confusion requires coordination and integration of program services, modifying target group, reducing differing definitions in administrative rules, and eliminating competition between programs.