This volume evaluates the effects of contemporary issues and technological trends upon the nature of Western society's educational systems and its ability to cope with changes in employment. The work is a translation from Italian. Three chapters emphasize higher education and compulsory education's relationship to a future society of quality living. Chapter 1, "The Quality of the Future," describes employment and new technologies, industrial restructuring, and the readaptation necessary of the labor force. A model case of technological reconversion in an Italian firm is analyzed, which resulted in extensive lay-offs. Conclusions include the point that the public sector does not offer retraining opportunities, which plays an important role in the turnover phenomenon. "The Near Future of Employment," chapter 2, applies economic and projective theories to employment in the United States and Europe. Scenarios for Italy and the United States illustrate the projected growth of occupations in lower echelons and at the top, resulting in a blue and white "striped collar" phenomenon. The teaching profession reflects a need for knowledge of computer systems in all fields. Greater availability of total wealth along with growing social imbalances will return attention to equality of opportunity. Chapter 3, "What Should Be Done about the Future?" suggests that answers must be sought within educational research, and yet the results of such research have not been utilized to improve society as a whole. In speculating whether the school system is capable of satisfying future occupational needs, educators should consider a uniform postcompulsory education system to deter unemployment. Eventually, everyone must be guaranteed minimal knowledge to respond to the challenge of "new literacy." References accompany each chapter; 21 tables of projective data are appended. (CJH)