A study was made of the psychological needs and vocational maturity of 158 trainees enrolled in nine skill areas (general office clerk, electrical appliance repair, welder, cook, baker, food service, service station mechanic, sewing machine operator, clerk typist) in a Manpower Development and Training Act center. Trainees were given the Vocational Maturity Scale (VM) of the Vocational Development Inventory and 15 scales of the Adjective Check List during the first week of training. Records were also obtained of age, last school grade completed, congruence of occupational choice with skill area training, and whether the individual continued training after the first month. Based on findings, it was concluded that: the VM scale seems related to achievement and dominance needs; vocational maturity differs among various skill areas; in view of the great overlapping of psychological needs scales from one skill area to another, a trainee's needs could apparently be met through his being in almost any skill area; the VM scale is apparently related to the last grade completed in school; trainees with psychological characteristics compatible with deference to classroom activities continue after the first month, while other trainees do not. (author/ly)