We interviewed workers, ran focus groups, assessed 45 workforce websites, and surveyed 270 career seekers across Texas. What we found: a significant and consistent gap between what workers need and what workforce websites deliver.
What workers want most
- Training program details (cost, time, potential earnings) — 75-point desirability score, the highest of any feature
- Funding eligibility information — 68-point desirability score
- Clear next steps — workers want to be able to take action, not just read
Only 26% of the workforce websites we evaluated provided these features. The gap isn't small — it's structural.
The mobile problem
30% of sites lacked adequate mobile navigation. 28% had inadequate mobile layout. For a population of workers who disproportionately access the internet on smartphones, this is a critical failure point.
"There are as many sites whose overall performance may repel workers from resources as sites that may attract workers to resources."
What the rubric covers
The evaluation rubric lets workforce organizations self-assess their sites using user-centered criteria. It covers mobile experience, information architecture, action orientation, content quality, and resource discoverability. Use it to benchmark your current site before investing in a rebuild.
