For decades the federal government has been involved in job training and, like nearly every other government-run activity, there’s waste and inefficiency at a time when our economy cries for results.
Sen. Tom Coburn (foxnews photo)
For some time now, Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) has been shining the spotlight on this bureaucratic mess, talking about the web of 47 separate programs across nine different agencies, each of which overlapped with another program in providing similar services to similar populations.
In his January 2014 State-of-the-Union address, some five years into his presidency, President Obama announced that he was tasking Vice President Joe Biden to do a complete review of federal job training programs. It’s the kiss of death. Don’t expect any results even though the president has said he will use his executive prerogative to reduce duplication and demand effectiveness.
I’ve got to hand it to Coburn. He immediately sent a letter to Biden, offering his support. He reminded the vice president of the $18 billion annually spent on the 47 programs. America Forward calculates the cost of all workforce development programs is closer to $60 billion.
Vice President Joe Biden and President Barack Obama (npr.org photo)
The Job Corps, a program I was associated with nearly 50 years ago, now spends as much as $76,000 per person, and often winds up placing graduates in minimum wage jobs which they weren’t trained to perform. Sounds like what’s happening to college grads of late.
A 2011 Government Accountability Office study of the 47 programs revealed that just five had impact studies to assess program success that led to participants securing jobs. No surprise.
“Many existing federal job training programs serve little purpose other than to provide employment for those administering the programs and receiving grants,” Coburn told Biden, “Unfortunately, the workforce and job training needs of the millions of Americans looking for work are not being met, despite the billions spent.”
With some 10 million people unemployed, it’s time for the federal government to get out of job training. Job training should be a collaboration of private sector businesses, community colleges and individual states, where the needs can best be addressed.
Don’t expect Biden to do the right thing. In June 2011, the president appointed Biden to head up the Campaign to Cut Waste, an effort to eliminate unnecessary government programs and “stupid spending that doesn’t benefit anybody.” I’m sure “ole Joe” was just too busy to look into job training waste.
On that occasion, the president said, “Targeting waste and making government more efficient have (has) been a priority for my administration since day one.” Really, Mr. President?
