Similarly, of all employers aware of the one-stops,  about three-quarters of large employers are likely to use one-stop services,  while approximately one-half of medium and one-quarter of small  employers are likely to do so. Employers of all sizes primarily use one-stop  services to help fill job vacancies. Large and Medium- Sized Employers Are More Likely than Small Employers to Know About and Use Their Local One-Stops and Other Resources of the Workforce System

While about half of all employers are aware of their local one-stops,  awareness levels increase with employer size, with about half of small,  two-thirds of medium, and three-quarters of large employers knowing  about their local one-stops. In addition,  most employers who use one-stop services would likely use them again,  and about one-third of employers who are aware of one-stop services but  do not use them would consider using them in the future. Among  employers who are aware of one-stop services, very few decline to use  them because of concerns about the quality of services. Instead, many of  these employers choose not to use one-stops because they rely on other  resources to hire and train workers or do not have enough information  about the services one-stops offer. Most Employers Are Satisfied with One-Stop Services

Overall, about 78 percent of employers in the United States who have used  one-stops are satisfied with the services they received. These employers  are most satisfied with one-stop efforts to provide timely services and  respond to their needs. Labor has developed partnerships with businesses and industry to  provide employers easier access to the resources of the one-stop system. To measure how the one-stop system is meeting the needs of employers,  Labor requires states to collect information on employer satisfaction with  the one-stop system but not on employer use of the system. Labor’s  employer satisfaction measure provides a high-level indicator of whether  employers are satisfied with the one-stop services they receive. It does  not, however, provide enough information on the services employers use  to help Labor manage its resources. Labor Has Initiatives to Support Employer Awareness and Use of the One-Stop System

Labor has developed a number of initiatives to support employer  awareness and use of the one-stop system but has limited information  about the extent to which employers use the system. Appendix II: Objectives, Scope, and Methodology

We examined (1) the extent to which employers, including small  businesses, are aware of and using the one-stop system; (2) the degree to  which employers who use one-stop services report satisfaction and what  factors cause employers not to use them; and (3) what Labor has done to  support employer awareness and use of the workforce system and how  Labor measures its success in meeting the needs of employers.
Why GAO Did This Study

The economy of the United States is fueled by 8 million private sector businesses that employ 106 million of the nation's 137 million workers. Employers are seeking better ways to meet their workforce needs as they compete in the global economy. This report examines (1) the extent to which employers, including small businesses, are aware of and using the one-stop system; (2) the degree to which employers who use one-stop services report satisfaction and what factors cause employers not to use them; and (3) what Labor has done to support employer awareness and use of the workforce system and how Labor measures its success in meeting the needs of employers.

What GAO Found

While about half of all employers are aware of their local one-stops, awareness increases with employer size, with about half of small, two-thirds of medium, and three-quarters of large employers knowing about their local one-stops. Similarly, of all employers aware of the one-stops, about three-quarters of large employers are likely to use one-stop services, while approximately one-half of medium and one-quarter of small employers are likely to do so. Employers of all sizes primarily use one-stop services to help fill job vacancies. Overall, about three-quarters of employers who use one-stop services are satisfied with the services they receive. These employers are most satisfied with one-stop efforts to provide timely services and respond to their needs. In addition, most employers who have used one-stop services would likely use them again, and about one-third of employers who are aware of one-stop services, but have not used them, would consider using them in the future. Among employers who are aware of one-stop services, very few decline to use them because of concerns about the quality of services. Instead, many of these employers choose not to use one-stops because they rely on other resources to hire and train workers or do not have enough information about the services one-stops offer. Labor has initiatives to support employer awareness and use of the one-stop system but does not know the extent to which employers use the system. Labor has developed partnerships with businesses and industry to provide employers easier access to the resources of the one-stop system. To measure how the one-stop system is meeting the needs of employers, Labor requires states to collect information on employer satisfaction with the one-stop system, but not on employer use of the system. Labor's employer satisfaction measure provides a high-level indicator of whether employers are satisfied with the one-stop services they receive; it does not, however, provide enough information on the services employers use to help Labor manage its resources.