CETA

• Consolidated many federal job training programs
• Provided block grants to state and local governments
• Superseded by the Job Training and Partnership Act (JTPA) in 1982

Details

Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA),was a U.S. government program designed to assist economically disadvantaged, unemployed, or underemployed persons. CETA was the first attempt to consolidate the array of federal programs for job training. The first major federal job training program, the Manpower Development and Training Act (MDTA), was enacted in 1962. It was followed by the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, which created the Job Corps, and the Work Incentive Program (WIN) in 1967, which provided training to welfare recipients. CETA was enacted in December, 1973 and transformed a number of population-specific job training programs into block grants, which were then given to the states. This marked the first step in a devolutionary process that saw increased responsibility for job training delegated to states and localities.  CETA provided block grants to state and local governments to support public and private job training, and such youth programs as the Job Corps and Summer Youth Employment. While the federal government provided oversight, local governments and training providers had tremendous input and control. 

This legislation is representative of the anti-poverty programs geared to addressing the social unrest found in urban settings.

In 1978 new legislation moved authority away from the community and more towards state government. It also gave a formal role to business groups through the development of Private Industry Councils. PICs were comprised of private and public sector representatives that served on Council to oversee the workforce development system.

CETA as superseded by the Job Training Partnership Act in 1982, which established the Office of Job Training Programs.