Summary: Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed federal employment training programs and the difficulty in coordinating client services. GAO held that: (1) the fragmented federal employment training system creates problems for job seekers, employers, and administrators; (2) the lack of access to information about what services programs offer can create confusion for job seekers about which program best meets their needs; (3) some needs assessments are performed by service providers who have a vested interest in which services participants receive; (4) duplicative assessment processes and placement activities waste resources and cause frustration for job seekers; (5) efforts to monitor program performance and outcomes are difficult because programs do not track participant progress; (6) several states have taken initiatives to reorganize their service delivery system to better coordinate services at the local level; (7) national groups, state officials, and employers have consistently identified the Employment Service (ES) as a key resource for coordinating local service delivery; and (8) ES is one of the most accessible employment assistance agencies, but there is substantial variation in the performance of local ES offices.
