The federal government has set up 47 job training programs, costing $18 billion, and the internal government said there is little data showing that the programs work.

Erica McCard is a success story and with the help of a job training program, she said she scored a software installation job and learned a key career lesson.

"It's important to network with people," McCard said. "You never know when you're going to need them again."

Washington is under intense pressure to fight unemployment, and for months, in interviews with News Center 7, the nation's labor secretary has promoted new investments in federal job training programs, including the Workforce Investment Act.

Secretary Hilda L. Solis said, "If you want to change careers, we can also help you do that."

However, a new report from the internal government auditors shows that 47 different federal jobs training programs have been created. The Labor Department, agriculture agencies, the military and the Federal Education Department are all offering similar programs. And, that little is being done to track which, if any, are effective.

A separate U.S. Senate Report found that some job training money was being spent so quickly since 2009, no one stopped questionable purchases by local agencies and recipients, such as money spent on booze, including studies on beer consumption and luxurious upgrades to old government buildings.

News Center 7 made several requests for comment from federal officials, but no response has been made. However, a U.S. Labor Department spokesperson was recently quoted as saying "more work can be done" to save money and make job training programs more efficient.

Reporter Scott MacFarland said more than 24,000 Ohio men and women were enrolled in a federal job training program last year.

Among the local offices is the Job Center Network of Miami County in Troy.