Department of Labor

The Department of Labor’s (DOL) discretionary budget request of $10.9 billion is $600 million less (5.5 percent decrease) than the FY 2006 appropriation. The agency’s payroll, however would increase by 103 full-time equivalent positions, according to the budget overview.



The Employment and Training Administration (ETA) FY 07 budget request of $5.6 billion reflects a 14.7 percent increase from the FY06 appropriation. Included in ETA funding is $150 million ($26 million increase) for Community-Based Job Training Grants, in the effort to strengthen the role of community colleges in workforce investment. The grants build on the High Growth Job Training Initiative, which sought to prepare workers to take advantage of new and increasing job opportunities in high growth industries and sectors of the economy.



For a second straight year, the budget proposes to consolidate four DOL programs and state grants for basic employment services into a $3.41 billion Career Advancement Accounts. The budget overview states that the new program includes formula grants and a National Reserve and will give states and the Secretary of Labor greater ability to target resources where needed, facilitate coordination, and eliminate duplication in the provision of services to adults, dislocated workers, and youth. The Administration tried unsuccessfully in FY06 to create a unified grant program by consolidating the WIA Adult, Dislocated Worker and Youth programs and Employment Service state grants. The FY07 consolidated program would be at least $620.3 million under the comparable FY06 total for the programs.