Approximately 3.3 million of the almost 6 million Americans estimated to be mentally retarded in 1963 were of working age from 16 to 64. This group was expected to increase to 3.7 million by 1970. A study of 2,500 young men rejected from military service for mental reasons found only two-thirds of these in the labor force as compared to 95 percent of all young men aged 18 to 24. It was estimated that over 85 percent of all retarded persons could become capable of some self support if given adequate training and employment opportunities. Service occupations constitute the fastest growing occupational area in which the retarded are likely to qualify for training and employment. The U.S. Vocational Rehabilitation Administration has had considerable success in placing retarded individuals as kitchen workers. Opportunities have been increasing in other likely occupations such as busboy, busgirl, dishwasher, hospital attendant, nurses aide, janitor, charwoman, yardsman, groundskeeper, and landscaping laborer. Several training projects developed by the Manpower Development and Training Act, the federal-state employment services to handicapped applicants, new policies by the Civil Service Commission, and federal legislation offer new training and employment possibilities for the mentally retarded. (EM)