Audit finds gains for some workforce programs but flags Medicaid unwinding and access delays at DWS

Legislative auditors presented a systematic audit of the Utah Department of Workforce Services, finding measurable wage gains for some program participants but noting service access problems during Medicaid unwinding and uneven customer service capacity.

The audit, presented by Leah Blevins and August Lehman of the Office of the Legislative Auditor General, followed cohorts through workforce development programs and found median percentage wage increases for participants in the range discussed in the presentation, but also that even large relative increases often left annual earnings below a living wage. “Even the ... 262% increase ... went from $6,000 a year to $24,000 a year. And so that’s not a living wage,” Lehman said.

Why it matters: The audit aims to identify where DWS can better use data to improve outcomes, reduce…