Book Description

The Department of Labor's (DOL) Summer Program for Economically Disadvantaged Youths has an admirable objective to provide youths meaningful work tasks and training to develop their skills and enhance their future employability. But, to be an effective tool to combat high unemployment rates among disadvantaged youths, the program must maintain congressional and public confidence that it is being carried out effectively and as economically as possible. DOL has provided criteria as to what constitutes meaningful work experience. However, sufficient detailed guidance to implement the criteria is lacking. The manner in which DOL allocated program funds to sponsors did not directly relate to the eligible populations' needs or consider sponsors' past performance in meeting program goals. Inflation and minimum wage rates increased program costs. Fiscal year 1978 funding levels are more than sufficient to continue program operations until DOL improves the quality of the program.