Audit of the Department of Career Services

This is a state performance audit of the Department of Career Services, covering July 1, 2014 through December 31, 2016.

“In accordance with Section 12 of Chapter 11 of the Massachusetts General Laws, the Office of the State Auditor has conducted a performance audit of the Department of Career Services (DCS) for the period July 1, 2014 through December 31, 2016.”

Auditors checked whether the agency’s job systems and reports worked properly, whether it met performance goals, and whether people could use JobQuest effectively.

“In this performance audit, we sought to determine whether DCS had an effective job information system in place for job seekers and employers in the Commonwealth; whether its job placement reports were accurate; whether and to what extent it achieved its annual performance goals for its programs; and whether job seekers and potential employers were able to effectively navigate the JobQuest system, which collects job-related information and stores it in the Massachusetts One-Stop Employment System (MOSES) database.”

If staff use the employment database without training, bad data could hurt the agency’s ability to manage services, measure results, and report accurately.

“The lack of training increases the risk that DCS staff members may incorrectly enter information in the database, which could have a negative impact on DCS’s ability to effectively manage its activities, measure its performance, and ensure accurate reporting.”

For job seekers and employers, the audit matters because DCS runs career centers and online tools that help people look for jobs, post openings, get training, and use career services.

“JobQuest is a self-service Web-based portal that enables employers to post job openings and allows job seekers to enter their résumés, register for career services, sign up for training and classes, and research job opportunities.”

The main problem was not the overall job placement system; it was that some employees got access to MOSES before completing training.

“At six One-Stop Career Centers we visited, out of a population of 52 new Massachusetts One-Stop Employment System (MOSES) users who needed access to the database in order to perform their jobs, 36 (69%) did not receive required training before they were given access.”

The auditor recommended that DCS require training before access and make training easier to get, such as through manuals, online modules, or recorded sessions.

“DCS management should not give staff members access to MOSES before they have received the required training.”

The audit concluded that DCS’s job placement reporting and JobQuest usability were acceptable, while identifying one training-related weakness that needed correction.

“Do job placement reports accurately reflect jobs obtained, and is DCS meeting its established performance goals in this area?”

MOSES is the database where DCS stores employment and training service information from career centers and JobQuest.

“DCS uses the Massachusetts One-Stop Employment System (MOSES) database to record all of its employment and training service information.”