Agencies exceed welfare-to-work hiring goals

Federal agencies have exceeded President Clinton's goal of hiring 10,000 people off the welfare rolls by the year 2000 by 25 percent, according to statistics released by the Office of Personnel Management.

In April 1997, President Clinton pledged that the government would hire 10,000 former welfare recipients. Agencies responded by committing to a total of 10,638 welfare hires by the year 2000, a goal which they met with 13,270 hires through May 22. The President's 10,000 figure was met in March.

The Commerce Department led the pack with 4,843 welfare recipients hired, 663 more than expected. The Treasury Department exceeded its goal by more than any other agency, hiring 1,837 people off the welfare rolls when it had committed to hiring only 405. The Defense Department beat exceeded its goal by 44 percent, hiring 2,308 former welfare recipients.

Not all agencies are faring as well. The State Department continues to struggle to meet its goal of hiring 220 former welfare recipients#&151; so far the agency has hired just 56 people off the welfare rolls. But all other agencies are at least halfway towards meeting their welfare hiring goals. The Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Small Business Administration are just squeaking by, with only 51 percent of their goals met so far.

Here's how it breaks down by agency:

Welfare to Work: Federal Government
Hires through May 22, 1999