The Job Training Partnership Act: Potential for Program Improvements But National Job Training Strategy Needed

GAO discussed the effectiveness of title IIA of the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) in meeting the employment and training needs of the economically disadvantaged adults and youths. GAO noted that: (1) the program is only marginally increasing the earnings and employment of certain groups above comparable nonparticipating groups; (2) the effectiveness of training services in improving the employment opportunities for various groups of participants is not known; (3) amendments to JTPA, along with a Department of Labor data collection initiative, have the potential to improve the JTPA program by providing specific guidance on program targeting, an objective assessment and training plan for all participants, and more meaningful data on program operations; (4) Labor should assume a more active role than it has in the past and provide detailed guidance to ensure that the new requirements are strictly followed; (5) JTPA programs do not function as a comprehensive, cohesive system and often operate in isolation; and (6) an employment and training strategy at the federal, state, and local level, a streamlined approach to eliminate duplication and confusion, and efficient and effective delivery of services are needed to improve JTPA.