The institutional arrangements through which workers are prepared and employed in selected occupations are examined to determine whether barriers to entry and employment are susceptible to elimination or reduction, and how labor shortages effect employers. It covers six occupations in the St. Louis and Chicago metropolitan areas: licensed practical nurses, medical technologists, electronic and metal engineering technicians, and tool and die makers and designers. Field interviews were conducted in 41 hospitals and 66 industrial establishments in the two areas during 1965 and 1966. General findings included: (1) The labor market for these occupations was largely a local market, (2) Attempts to alleviate shortages were limited to modest changes, in practice, (3) Adjustment situations appear to work best where the product market approaches the competitive model, (4) Broad options of educational preparation and training tend to facilitate adjustment to shortage situations, (5) Wage changes play a minor role in shortage adjustments, (6) The medical occupations utilized more persons from minority groups, and (7) There was a serious deficiency in the availability and dissemination of relevant occupational information. (EM)