GAO Report: Improve Disability Access to DOL Job Programs
Summary
The GAO released a report highlighting issues with disability access to Department of Labor (DOL) job programs. The report found that job seekers with disabilities may not receive necessary accommodations and that DOL does not routinely analyze its monitoring results or evaluate the use of its guidance. The GAO recommended DOL address these systemic issues.
What changed
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has released a report (GAO-26-107473) detailing significant shortcomings in the accessibility of Department of Labor (DOL) funded employment and training programs for individuals with disabilities. The report indicates that while 7% of program participants have disabilities, they experience worse employment outcomes. Key findings include inconsistent availability of essential accommodations like sign language interpreters, and a lack of routine analysis by DOL of its own monitoring data to identify and address widespread accessibility issues. Furthermore, local officials are often unaware of or do not utilize DOL's provided accessibility guidance and technical assistance.
This report necessitates a review of current accessibility practices within DOL-funded job centers and associated training programs. While the report does not impose immediate compliance deadlines, it strongly recommends that DOL address the identified issues to ensure equitable access for job seekers with disabilities. Compliance officers should familiarize themselves with the GAO's recommendations and anticipate potential future guidance or policy changes from DOL aimed at improving data analysis, guidance dissemination, and the provision of accommodations. Failure to address these accessibility gaps could lead to continued disparities in employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities and potential future scrutiny from oversight bodies.
What to do next
- Review current accessibility practices for individuals with disabilities in DOL-funded programs.
- Assess the availability and provision of necessary accommodations, such as assistive technology and sign language interpreters.
- Familiarize with GAO recommendations and anticipate potential future DOL policy changes regarding data analysis and guidance dissemination.
Source document (simplified)
GAO-26-107473 Published: Jan 21, 2026. Publicly Released: Feb 20, 2026.
Fast Facts
Over 500,000 people with disabilities were unemployed and actively looking for work each year from 2021-2024. Job seekers with disabilities may need accommodations—such as assistive technology—to access Department of Labor-funded employment and training programs at job centers.
However, we found that job seekers may not be able to access needed services—such as sign language interpreters—in some areas. Also, while DOL monitors its programs and provides accessibility guidance to job centers, it doesn't routinely analyze its monitoring results or evaluate the use of its guidance.
We recommended DOL address these issues and more.
A man in an electric wheelchair, wearing safety glasses, a yellow vest and blue helmet in a factory.
Highlights
What GAO Found
Seven percent of participants in the Department of Labor (DOL) workforce programs GAO reviewed reported having disabilities, according to DOL data from July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024. Participants with disabilities had worse employment outcomes. Of those reporting a disability, 43 percent did not report their disability type (e.g., a physical or cognitive disability). GAO found that the completeness of these data varied widely by state. DOL has taken steps to improve the completeness of these state-collected data, which could help it improve outcomes for participants with different types of disabilities. However, officials said they do not plan to target assistance to states with less complete data.
State and local workforce agencies GAO visited have made various efforts to ensure their programs are accessible to participants with disabilities. For example, officials GAO interviewed said they have provided assistive technology such as computers that are accessible to people with visual impairments (see figure). However, officials also reported challenges ensuring that training provided outside of job centers is accessible and providing certain accommodations such as sign language interpreters.
Computer Workstation with Accessibility Features at a Job Center
DOL monitors state and local workforce agencies to help ensure its programs are accessible but does not routinely analyze monitoring results. DOL’s monitoring reports include an examination of state and local accessibility efforts, but the agency has not developed a procedure to analyze them at an aggregate level, which increases the risk the agency will fail to identify and address widespread issues. Also, DOL has provided guidance and technical assistance on a range of accessibility topics. However, officials GAO interviewed in several local areas were not aware of or do not use these resources. Without evaluating awareness or use of its guidance and assistance, DOL may miss opportunities to improve dissemination of materials or take other actions to promote them.
Why GAO Did This Study
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act authorizes programs that help job seekers access services at locations called job centers. It prohibits discrimination, requiring that services be accessible to people with disabilities. GAO was asked to examine efforts to ensure programs are accessible.
This report addresses (1) the share of participants in selected DOL workforce programs that report disabilities and use services, and their employment outcomes, (2) the efforts made and challenges faced by state and local workforce agencies to ensure the programs’ services are accessible to people with disabilities, and (3) DOL’s efforts to ensure the programs are accessible.
GAO analyzed participant-level DOL data from July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024, the most recent year available; reviewed relevant federal laws, policies, and agency documents; interviewed DOL and state officials, disability organizations, and participants with disabilities; and visited a non-generalizable sample of 12 job centers in Arkansas, Oregon, Virginia, and the District of Columbia, selected for variation in geographic location, urban or rural population, and percentage of participants with disabilities.
Recommendations
GAO is making three recommendations: that DOL (1) take additional steps to collect more complete data on participants’ disability type, (2) develop a procedure to routinely analyze state monitoring reports, and (3) evaluate awareness and use of guidance and technical assistance. DOL disagreed with the first recommendation and agreed with the other two. GAO maintains that additional steps to collect more complete data are needed, as discussed in the report.
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Department of Labor | The Secretary of Labor should take additional steps to collect more complete data on workforce program participants' disability types. These steps could include targeting technical assistance to states where these data are less complete. (Recommendation 1) | Open When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information. |
| Department of Labor | The Secretary of Labor should develop a written procedure for routinely analyzing DOL's state monitoring reports, including associated reports on local workforce agencies, to identify any widespread issues with accessibility for people with disabilities and take appropriate action to address them. (Recommendation 2) | Open When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information. |
| Department of Labor | The Secretary of Labor should evaluate state and local workforce agencies' awareness and use of guidance, including its promising practices guide at such time as it is reposted to its website, and technical assistance on ensuring accessibility of its workforce programs for people with disabilities and take steps as needed to improve dissemination or promotion. (Recommendation 3) | Open When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information. |
Full Report
GAO Contacts
Elizabeth Curda Director Education, Workforce, and Income Security curdae@gao.gov
Media Inquiries
Sarah Kaczmarek Managing Director Office of Public Affairs media@gao.gov
Public Inquiries
Topics
Equal Opportunity Compliance oversight Employment and training programs Employment outcomes Equal opportunity Federal workforce People with disabilities Physical disabilities Technical assistance Public officials Adults
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