A MAJOR PROBLEM OF AMERICAN YOUTH TODAY IS THAT OF QUALIFYING FOR AND HOLDING A JOB. GENERAL EDUCATION IS NOT ENOUGH FOR THE GREAT MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WHO MUST OPERATE FARMS, MACHINES, SHOPS, AND OFFICES AND PROVIDE SERVICES. YOUTH FACE INCREASED JOB COMPETITION BECAUSE OF THE INCREASED SIZE OF THE 14- TO 24-YEAR AGE GROUP. UNEMPLOYMENT AMONG YOUNG WORKERS HAS CONSISTENTLY BEEN HIGHER THAN FOR THE REST OF THE LABOR FORCE, WITH THE HIGHEST RATE AMONG 16- AND 17-YEAR-OLDS. IF PRESENT DROPOUT TRENDS CONTINUE, EIGHT OF 10 CHILDREN NOW IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WILL NOT FINISH COLLEGE. SCHOOL DROPOUTS COME CLOSE TO ECONOMIC SUICIDE. UNLESS YOUNG PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO INCREASE BOTH GEOGRAPHIC AND OCCUPATIONAL MOBILITY THROUGH ADDITIONAL TRAINING, THEY CANNOT ADAPT TO EMPLOYMENT SHIFTS SUCH AS THOSE IN AGRICULTURE AND THE SERVICE OCCUPATIONS, OR TO THE INCREASED DEMAND FOR SKILLED WORKERS. ONE OF THE FREQUENTLY OFFERED SOLUTIONS FOR UNEMPLOYMENT IS MORE EDUCATION AND TRAINING, BUT THIS DOES NOT NECESSARILY HAVE TO TAKE PLACE IN COLLEGE. STUDIES SHOW THAT IN COMMUNITIES WHERE STUDENTS WERE NOT OFFERED ADEQUATE VOCATIONAL PROGRAMS, THE DROPOUT RATE WAS THREE TIMES AS HIGH, AND THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE WAS EIGHT TIMES AS HIGH AS IN AREAS WITH SUCH EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES. AREA VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY COLLEGES, UNIVERSITY BRANCHES, AND BUSINESS, LABOR, AND OTHER PRIVATE PROGRAMS ARE OFFERING CAREER TRAINING IN INCREASING AMOUNTS, BUT THE PROBLEMS OF INADEQUATE CAREER INFORMATION, INADEQUATE INDIVIDUAL FITNESS EVALUATION, INADEQUATE TRAINING FACILITIES, AND A LACK OF FINANCIAL PLANNING TO FACILITATE TRAINING PROGRAMS STILL EXIST. DOCUMENTS DISCUSSING TRAINING ALTERNATIVES ARE VT 001 354 - VT 001 358. (EM)