Researchers have investigated whether significant numbers of people can earn their way out of long-term poverty. Statistics show that between 1980 and 1986, the number of District of Columbia residents living in poverty increased by 8 percent. Between 1970 and 1980, the numbers of poor people living in the same area with other poor people increased; and of the total 1986 population in poverty, 82 percent were black. If successful, an employment-based strategy could be of direct benefit to significant numbers of poor DC residents, since many working-age adults were poor because full-time employment at the wages they could command was not enough to lift their households out of poverty. Discrimination by race in employment might be a problem. Jobs are available, but many are low paying, short term, and offer little hope for advancement. Funding by federal and DC governments and the private sector exists for employment and training activities. Employment barriers confronting all poor workers include the importance of skills, importance of transportation, and factors limiting access to job opening information. Challenges confronting poor men are their criminal records and sale of illicit drugs. Poor women are confronted with lower wages; poor single mothers must find child care. The following difficulties are associated with employment training: evaluation, coordination, federal requirements, retention, upgrading, remediation, child care, recruitment of men, and transition services. (Contains 36 references.) (YLB)