A study examined the skills required of human resource development (HRD) specialists in western Texas. To gather data for the study, the researcher administered a survey instrument to 66 employers from the western Texas region who were identified as employing 200 or more persons. Of these individuals, 28 returned usable responses. Based on the completed survey instruments, 77 competencies were identified as being important to the job performance of HRD specialists in the area under investigation and 67 were identified as being not vitally important. The basic skills needed in designing and developing programs were related to the areas of critical thinking and evaluation. Listed among those skills needed most by trainers were good written and oral communications, data collection and analysis, planning and organization, problem-solving, and group process abilities. Responses to the survey instrument indicated that training in the companies located in the region under investigation generally proceeds from the top down and that it is most often self-contained within the individual company. Communications and conflict resolution training emerged as being especially important inasmuch as a substantial part of the trainers job appeared to be devoted to maintaining relationships. (MN)