Overall, Job Corps Operated at or Near Capacity for Male Residential Students, but Not for Female Residential Students

The Job Corps program has been operating at or near capacity for male  residential students, but under capacity for female residential students  during the last 3 program years. During those years, Job Corps overall  achieved between 95 and 98 percent of the planned enrollment for male  residential students, but achieved about 80 percent or less of the planned  enrollment for female residential students (see fig. 6). Moreover,  about one-half of the 117 centers that enrolled female residential students  in program year 2007 were below 80 percent of their planned enrollment  for female residential students. Three Key Factors Affect Job Corps’ Ability to Recruit and Retain Residential Students

Three major factors affect the recruitment and retention of residential  students, particularly female residential students, according to Job Corps  officials. These key factors include the selection and availability of career  training offerings, the availability of complete and accurate preenrollment  information, and the quality of center life. Selection and Availability of Career Training Offerings Play a Major Role in Recruiting Students

The selection and availability of career training offerings in occupations of  interest to students play a major role in Job Corps’ ability to recruit  students, particularly female residential students. Labor Has Taken Some Steps to Address Job Corps’ Recruitment and Retention Issues, but These Efforts Are Limited in Scope

Labor has made some improvements to career training offerings,  preenrollment information, and quality of center life in an effort to address  issues related to the recruitment and retention of residential students. However, Labor has not reviewed nationally the training options that  centers provide for female students or ensured that students receive  detailed preenrollment information. Job Corps officials generally agree that an effective way for students to  have realistic expectations about life at a Job Corps center is for them to  visit the center prior to enrolling. Labor Has Taken Some Steps to Address Issues Related to the Quality of Center Life

Labor has several efforts under way to improve the quality of Job Corps  center life for students. Approximately 1 in 10 of the female students in Job Corps in  program year 2007 were single parents, and officials noted that these  students face an additional barrier to participating in the program due to  their need for child care. Appendix I: Objectives, Scope, and Methodology

To better understand the recruitment and retention of residential students,  we were asked to provide information on the (1) extent to which Job  Corps centers are operating at or near capacity for residential students;   (2) major factors that affect centers’ ability to recruit and retain residential  students, particularly female residential students; and (3) steps, if any, the  Department of Labor (Labor) has taken to address the recruitment and  retention of residential students.
Why GAO Did This Study

Established in 1964, Job Corps is the nation's largest residential, educational, and career training program for economically disadvantaged youths. Administered by the Department of Labor (Labor), Job Corps received about $1.6 billion in program year 2007 and served about 60,000 students. Some have expressed concern that Job Corps centers are not meeting planned enrollment goals, particularly for women. To address these concerns, GAO reviewed the (1) extent to which Job Corps centers are operating at or near capacity for residential students; (2) major factors that affect the recruitment and retention of residential students, particularly females; and (3) steps, if any, Labor has taken to address the recruitment and retention of residential students. To address these objectives, GAO analyzed Labor's enrollment data, surveyed Job Corps recruiters and center directors, and visited seven Job Corps centers.

What GAO Found

Overall, the Job Corps program has been operating at or near capacity for male residential students, but under capacity for female residential students during program years 2005 through 2007. During each of those years, Job Corps achieved between 95 and 98 percent of the planned enrollment for male residential students nationwide, but about 80 percent or less for female residential students. In fact, about one-half of the centers that enrolled female residential students in program year 2007 were below 80 percent of their planned enrollment for that group. Three key factors affect Job Corps' ability to recruit and retain residential students, particularly female residential students--availability of career training options, complete and accurate preenrollment information, and quality of center life. The selection and availability of career training offerings in occupations of interest to students play a major role in Job Corps' ability to recruit students, particularly female residential students, according to officials that we surveyed. A key factor affecting both recruitment and retention is ensuring that students have accurate preenrollment information about Job Corps. Officials noted that having realistic expectations of life at a center is especially important for female students. Finally, center officials said that the quality of life at the centers, including the living conditions and the sense of safety, affects students' willingness to stay in the program. Labor has begun making improvements in career training offerings, preenrollment information, and quality of center life in an effort to address issues related to the recruitment and retention of residential students. While Labor has gradually made more training opportunities available that are likely to appeal to female students, these are typically at a center's request and not part of an overall strategy. In addition, Labor has taken some steps to ensure that students receive detailed preenrollment information, but has not yet expanded these efforts nationally. Finally, Labor has several efforts under way to improve the quality of center life for students, including ensuring a drug-free environment and providing child care facilities for single parents.