In July 2005, Labor implemented  new performance measures, which provide information on some  outcomes for veterans. However, not all performance measures have been  fully implemented. Furthermore, it  is difficult to assess outcomes over time or across states because of  frequent changes in states’ reporting requirements that prevent  establishing reliable trend data. However, states are not yet held accountable for an additional common  measure—veterans’ average earnings—in either the DVOP or the LVER  programs. Available Data Paint an Unclear Picture of Veterans’ Use of One- Stop Services

Labor’s data on veteran job seekers paint an unclear picture of their use of  employment and training services in the one-stop system, despite the  shared use of common performance measures across programs. Although  many veterans use employment services other than those provided by the  DVOP and LVER programs, key employment programs vary in how well  their data on veteran participants are integrated or shared with other  programs. In addition, statutory differences in the way veterans  are defined for purposes of program eligibility make it difficult to  standardize data across employment programs. Moreover, Labor has no  means of assessing whether priority of service for veterans has been  implemented in various employment programs. Historically, some states have collected information on these job  seekers, while others have not. Labor Has Taken Steps to Better Understand Veterans’ Outcomes, but the Programs’ Impact Remains Unknown

Labor has taken some steps to improve the quality of performance data  and better understand veterans’ services and outcomes, but the overall  impact of employment services for veterans is unknown. Labor  has sponsored research on services to veterans. However, it has not  conducted an impact evaluation, as required under WIA, to assess the  effectiveness of one-stop services. Recommendations for Executive Action

To provide a better picture of services and outcomes for veteran job  seekers, improve program reporting, and facilitate priority of service, we  recommend that the Secretary of Labor    ensure that states are given adequate direction and sufficient time  to implement ETA’s planned integrated data reporting system and  make necessary changes;    consolidate all performance measures for the DVOP and LVER  programs, including those for disabled and recently separated  veterans;    comply with JVA’s requirement to implement a weighting system for  the DVOP and LVER performance measures that takes into account  the difficulty of serving veterans with particular barriers to  employment;    develop legislative proposals for appropriate changes to the  definitions of veterans across employment and training programs to  ensure consistency; and    ensure that Labor moves forward with an impact evaluation for the  one-stop system under WIA as we recommended in 2004, and that  the evaluation’s sampling methodology includes veterans in  sufficient numbers to allow analysis of the impact of services to  veterans in the one-stop system, including those served by the  DVOP and LVER programs. Other contacts and staff acknowledgments are listed in  appendix V.

Appendix I: Objectives, Scope, and Methodology

The objectives of this report were to determine (1) the extent to which  DVOP and LVER performance information reflects services and outcomes  for veterans served by these programs, (2) the extent to which  performance information on veterans served by other key programs is  comprehensive and well integrated across programs in the one-stop  system, and (3) what Labor is doing to improve the quality of performance  data and better understand outcomes for veteran job seekers.
Why GAO Did This Study

In 2002, Congress enacted the Jobs for Veterans Act (JVA), which modified two Department of Labor (Labor) programs that specifically target veteran job seekers: the Disabled Veterans' Outreach Program (DVOP) and the Local Veterans' Employment Representative (LVER) program. However, questions have been raised about the adequacy of performance information on services to veterans by these and other employment programs. In this report, GAO examined (1) the extent to which DVOP and LVER performance information reflects services and outcomes for veterans; (2) the extent to which performance information on veterans paints a clear picture of their use of one-stop services; and (3) what Labor is doing to improve the quality of performance data and better understand program impact and outcomes for veterans.

What GAO Found

Performance information for the DVOP and LVER programs provides some sense of services and outcomes for veterans, but is weakened by several factors. In July 2005, Labor adopted new performance measures for the programs, but not all have been fully implemented. For example, states are held accountable for helping veterans get and keep jobs, but are not yet held accountable for their average earnings once employed, as they are for other programs. Additionally, having separate performance measures for the DVOP and LVER programs fails to acknowledge the similarity of the populations they serve and duties they perform. Furthermore, it is difficult to assess outcomes over time or across states because of frequent changes in reporting requirements that prevent establishing reliable trend data. Labor's data on veteran job seekers paint an unclear picture of their use of other employment and training services in the one-stop system, despite the use of common performance measures across programs. Although many veterans use services other than those provided by the DVOP and LVER programs, key employment programs vary in how well their data on veteran job seekers are shared across programs, making it difficult to know how many veterans are served. In addition, statutory differences in the definitions of veterans hinder efforts to standardize data across employment programs. Moreover, Labor has no means of assessing whether priority of service for veterans has been implemented in various employment programs. Labor has taken some steps to improve the quality of performance data and better understand outcomes for veterans. For example, Labor requires states to validate key performance data. Labor has also planned an integrated data reporting system that would track individual veterans' progress through the one-stop system. However, states have raised concerns about the timelines and its current implementation date is unclear. Furthermore, while outcome information on veterans is helpful, it cannot measure whether the outcomes are due to the program or other factors. While Labor has sponsored research on services to veterans, it has not yet conducted the impact evaluation required by law to assess the effectiveness of one-stop services.