The U. S. General Accounting Office (GAO) Study of One-Stop Career Centers

In June of 2003 the GAO released a study titled “Workforce Investment Act: One-Stop Centers Implemented Strategies to Strengthen Services and Partnerships, but More Research and Information Sharing is Needed.” The GAO conducted site visits to 14 different one-stop centers across the U.S., including:

Aurora, Colorado
Blaine, Minnesota
Boston, Massachusetts
Clarksville, Tennessee
Dayton, Ohio
Erie, Pennsylvania
Kansas City, Missouri
Kenosha, Wisconsin
Killeen, Texas
Pikeville, Kentucky
Salt Lake City, Utah
Santa Rosa, California
Sunnyvale, California
Vineland, New Jersey

In terms of promising practices for one-stop centers, the report recognized the following three proven strategies for streamlining processes and providing better service to job seekers.

• Ensure easy access to the services needed by job seekers;
• Cross-train one-stop center staff to ensure that they all understand the array of services and programs available to job seekers;
• Consolidate case management and intake procedures, providing a seamless process for job seekers.

In terms of promising practices for one-stop centers, the report recognized the following three proven strategies for streamlining processes and providing better service to employers.

• Dedicate specialized one-stop center staff to work with employers or industry groups;
• Work with employers through intermediary bodies such as chambers of commerce or economic development agencies;
• Customize one-stop services to meet the specific needs of local employers.

The report includes dozens of specific examples of these promising practices from all of the one-stop centers that were studied. However, the report also recommends that more in-depth research is required in order to truly understand the impact of the various approaches described above on both job seekers and employers.

Website

The GAO’s full report can be accessed in text or pdf format on their website. Enter GA0-03-725 in the site’s search field in order to see the report.

http://www.gao.gov/

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