US Department of Labor releases new Job Corps Transparency Report

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration today released a detailed report analyzing the financial performance and operational costs of the Job Corps Program, the federally funded residential career training and education program for eligible low-income young adults ages 16 to 24. 

The 2025 “Job Corps Transparency Report” delivers a granular, data-centric examination of program expenditures and efficiency metrics, aggregating unmanipulated financial data and performance evaluations produced by the department’s national Job Corps Office. This report specifically analyzes the most recently available metrics from program year 2023, including cost per enrollee and per graduate. 

“Taxpayers deserve to know the facts and outcomes of their multi-billion-dollar investment,” said Acting Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training Lori Frazier Bearden. “This report underscores the department’s commitment to program transparency and accountability – both of which are essential for effective oversight, informed policymaking, and maintaining public trust.” 

The report’s metrics distinguish between two definitions of the term graduate: one reflecting traditional program completion in good standing (Traditional), and another using the statutory criteria from Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Sec. 116, Sec. 142, which counts individuals who do not complete the full program. The WIOA definition of graduate is “an enrollee that 1) receives a High School Diploma (HSD) or High School Equivalency (HSE), and/or 2) completes the requirements of a career technical training (CTT) program.”    

Below is a summary of the overall findings from PY2023: 

• Average Graduation Rate:
  • Traditional: 32%
  • WIOA Definition: 38%
• Average Cost Per Enrollee (Regardless of Length of Stay): $49,769.53
• Average Cost Per Student Per Year (Average PY23 Headcount): $80,284.65
• Average Total Cost Per Graduate:
  • Traditional: $187,653
  • WIOA Definition: $155,600
• Job Corps participants earn $16,695 annually on average, post separation
• Average of Highest Center Costs per Graduate (Traditional Data):
  • The 10 least efficient programs average $512,800 dollars per graduate
  • The top 50 least efficient programs average $319,085 per graduate
• Average of Highest Center Costs per Graduate (WIOA Data):
  • The 10 least efficient programs average $385,370 per graduate
  • The top 50 least efficient programs average $252,285 per graduate

Read the full Job Corps Transparency Report.