This document contains four symposium papers on work force development. "Effects of Two Different Learning Paths on School-to-Work Transition" (Esther Van Der Schoot) discusses a Dutch study documenting that the following items make a difference in the school-to-work transition: learning path, curriculum characteristics, individual characteristics, organizational factors, and labor market factors. "Predictors of Success in Welfare-to-Work Training for the Information Technology Workforce" (Albert K. Wiswell, Margaret G. McCrudden) examines the extent to which various assessments conducted at the time of entry into a welfare-to-work demonstration program were able to predict participants' success in obtaining an information technology job. "Workforce Preparation in a Rural Context: A Curriculum Integration Intervention" (Gene L. Roth) reports on a 3-year project that was funded by a state board of education to help integrate science and applied agriculture in four rural school systems. "Human Resource Related Characteristics in Selected Small Manufacturing Companies in Mexico" (William R. Venable), which is based on interviews with executives from 31 selected Mexican companies, concludes that, in Mexico, training activities focus on employee relations more than on employee development and high-performance work practices are rare. (MN)