ABSTRACT
Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA) had two employment programs. Title II-D was intended to combat structural employment problems; title VI dealt with cyclical employment problems. Actually, the two programs were quite similar, providing jobs to persons in families receiving public assistance and to low-income unemployed persons. In 1978, Congress amended the CETA authorization to increase its targeting toward the poor, eliminate fiscal substitution by recipient jurisdictions, increase the amount of transition to unsubsidized jobs, and reduce the levels of fraud and abuse. Title III of CETA authorizes additional employment and training assistance to special groups who face particular disadvantages in the labor market. Title VII of CETA authorizes funds to establish private industry councils, whose function is to encourage local industry to become more involved in employing and training unemployed and underemployed low-income persons. The budget reductions of 1981 were directed not only against CETA's public service employment programs, but also against its training and youth programs.
