In American Samoa, employment fell 19 percent from 2008 to 2009 and 14 percent from 2006 to 2009. Data for 2010 total employment are not available. GAO questionnaire responses show that tuna canning employment fell 55 percent from 2009 to 2010, reflecting the closure of one cannery and layoffs in the remaining cannery. Average inflation-adjusted earnings fell by 5 percent from 2008 to 2009 and by

About one quarter of the 8,350 plant closures and mass layoffs in 2001 appear subject to WARN's advance notice requirements. Mass layoffs were less likely to be subject to the requirements than plant closures. The difference between mass layoffs and plant closures stems primarily from a rule exempting mass layoffs from WARN's requirements if businesses lay off less than one-third of their workfor

In July 2002, GAO presented a rightsizing framework outlining a systematic approach for assessing overseas workforce size that considers security, mission, and cost. GAO recommended that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) use the framework as part of the administration's rightsizing initiative, and OMB is now using it to review posts in Europe and Eurasia. After initially applying the fram

Under the Workforce Investment Act, local workforce areas are likely to offer dislocated workers services that are tailored to local needs and that emphasize a quick return to employment. Nine of the local workforce areas that GAO visited emphasized a quick return to work and enrolled fewer dislocated workers into training than were enrolled under the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA). Five loc

The Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) Program and the North American Free Trade Agreement Transitional Adjustment Assistance (NAFTA-TAA) Program are designed to help dislocated workers, communities, and firms adjust to the rapid economic changes that characterize the globalization of national economies. Although globalization has increased the importance of technology and service sector jobs, it

If the federal government is to effectively manage the tasks and programs assigned to it through legislation, it must have a sufficient and qualified workforce. One important element that agencies must consider in their workforce planning is the number and kinds of employees who will retire during the next five years. GAO projects that the number of employees retiring will be roughly equivalent t

Concerns about the effects of the globalization of national economies and the rapid pace of economic change have focused attention on federal programs designed to assist U.S. workers displaced by foreign trade and increased imports. GAO reviewed two programs run by the Department of Labor. The Trade Adjustment Assistance Program (TAA) and the North American Free Trade Agreement Transitional Adjus

GAO noted that: (1) overall funding, spending, and workforce reductions occurred from FY 1994 to 1996; (2) however, budget cuts did not result in commensurate reductions in spending; (3) DOE spent almost the same in FY 1996 as it did in 1994; (4) while congressional funding decreased, from $19.5 billion to $17.4 billion, or 11 percent, between those years, spending only decreased from $20.4 billi

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO discussed its downsizing efforts, focusing on: (1) its strategic planning process for restructuring its workforce; (2) the development and implementation of its new reductions in force (RIF) rules; and (3) the difference between its RIF rules and appeal rights versus those for executive branch agencies. GAO noted that: (1) it used a thorough and rational p