With focus on the similarities rather than the differences among Latin American countries, the interrelationships of education and employment are analyzed to draw implications for educational policy and planning. Emphasis is on the need to take into account the socio-political and cultural constraints operating in the Latin American context as different from the developed world. Description of the present situation covers relationships between educational level and occupational level, income, and unemployment. Tables present data from different countries and cities, in some cases by age and sex. As guidelines for improvement strategies, several historical trends are discussed: expansion of labor markets and educational levels, employment and educational imbalances, productivity, technological change, labor mobility, and community development. Options for future development, in terms of adjustment to actual educational policies, are examined under three headings: matching education, training, and the needs of the informal sector; matching formal education and employment in the formal sector; and education and training for the rural areas. References to research studies are documented throughout the paper and a brief abstract in French is included. (JT)