FIELD REPORTS ON JUNE 1966 CONDITIONS IN 30 MAJOR LABOR AREAS FOR ENGINEERING, SCIENTIFIC, AND TECHNICAL OCCUPATIONS, PROVIDED BY AFFILIATES OF THE BUREAU OF EMPLOYMENT SECURITY, WERE THE BASIS FOR THIS SEMIANNUAL REPORT. THE NUMBER OF APPLICANTS HAD DECLINED 48 PERCENT TO A NEW 8-YEAR LOW, WHILE OPENINGS HAD RISEN TO 9,600, 58 PERCENT OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR. DEMANDS ACCELERATED BY EXPANSIONS IN CIVILIAN-ORIENTED INDUSTRIAL AND GOVERNMENT CONTRACT ACTIVITIES AND GOVERNMENT SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS WERE PARTICULARLY STRONG IN DURABLE GOODS, DEFENSE, AEROSPACE, AIRCRAFT, SHIPBUILDING, ELECTRONICS, METAL WORKING, MACHINERY PRODUCTION, CONSTRUCTION WORK, AND RESEARCH. THE GREATEST VOLUME OF JOB OPENINGS WERE FOR ENGINEERS AND DRAFTSMEN IN MECHANICAL, ELECTRICAL, CIVIL, AND AERONAUTICAL SPECIALTIES, FOR ANALYTICAL AND PHYSICAL CHEMISTS, MATHEMATICAL SCIENTISTS, AND PHYSICISTS, AND FOR INDUSTRIAL AND MEDICAL LABORATORY TECHNICIANS. TO MEET STAFFING REQUIREMENTS, EMPLOYERS SOUGHT EMPLOYED PERSONNEL, RECENT GRADUATES, AND COLLEGE STUDENTS, LOWERED JOB REQUIREMENTS IN SOME CASES, AND MADE HIGHER SALARY OFFERS. STARTING SALARIES FOR ENGINEERING GRADUATES AVERAGED 7 TO 10 PERCENT ABOVE 1965'S LEVEL. TO HELP MEET THE NEED, INSTITUTIONAL TRAINING COURSES UNDER THE MANPOWER DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING ACT WERE APPROVED FOR SOME 2,300 DRAFTSMEN AND 700 LABORATORY TECHNICIANS. THE LONG LEAD-TIME REQUIRED TO TRAIN ENGINEERS AND SCIENTISTS, THE EXPANDING ECONOMY, AND THE NEED FOR ENGINEERS AND SCIENTISTS TO HELP SOLVE PROBLEMS SUCH AS AIR POLLUTION WHICH AFFECT THE NATIONAL WELFARE CONTRIBUTED TO THE CURRENT MANPOWER SHORTAGES. (JM)