GAO-06-176 Veterans' Employment and Training Service: Labor Actions Needed to Improve Accountability and Help States Implement Reforms to Veterans' Employment Services

Congress passed the Jobs for Veterans Act (JVA) in 2002 to improve employment and training services for veterans and to encourage employers to hire them. Under JVA, the Department of Labor is required to "evaluate whether covered persons" (veterans and certain eligible spouses) are receiving priority of service (POS) in the workforce investment system. This study is an action item the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) identified in response to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) recommendations made in report number GAO-06-176 to improve accountability and help states integrate veterans services in One-Stop Career Centers. In July 2007, ETA initiated this study to address the abovementioned requirements. To provide some perspective on the timing of the report, it is important to note that key data collection activities conducted under this study were accomplished prior to or just shortly after the Veterans Employment and Training Service (VETS) issued the final rule on "Priority of Service for Covered Persons" in the Federal Register on December 19, 2008 and well before additional administrative guidance was promulgated by ETA and VETS in 2009 and 2010. Specifically, the data collection activities took place from December 2007 until April 2009. Therefore, this study should be viewed as a snapshot of a point in time prior to the issuance of regulations and administrative guidance.