A study examined employers' views regarding factors facilitating and obstructing the success of school-to-work transition programs (SWT) programs and ways of facilitating public and private sector participation in SWT programs for Florida's noncollege-bound youth. A literature review and multiple case studies of established youth apprenticeship (YA) programs in Jacksonville and Alabama were conducted. The case studies included reviews of numerous written documents and reports and personal interviews of 10 participating employers, 8 former participating employers, and 9 program administrators currently or previously involved in the YA programs. Of the 18 employers interviewed, 16 considered participation in YA programs a cost-effective method of training employees. Employers also perceived YA programs as a source of good employees and a way of promoting a positive image. Perceived barriers to participation included student workers' immaturity or poor attitudes, lack of retention guarantees after training resources have been expended, time required for paperwork and program development/implementation, and limits of insurance coverage for underage workers. The following actions were recommended as ways of facilitating transition: implement public relations and marketing activities, address immaturity and attitude problems among youth, provide scheduling alternatives, improve student placements, implement employer incentive programs, reform administrative procedures, and reorganize governance. (Contains 56 references.) (MN)