Described in this paper is the development and evaluation of the Employability Skills Series by the Florida Department of Education, 1975-1977. Focusing on skills involved in getting and keeping any job, the series is intended for use with secondary students and adults and is on approximately a fifth grade reading level. It consists of six student booklets, an instructor's guide for each, an annotated resource guide, an educational game, and a filmstrip/cassette. Four features are considered essential in the competency based series: (1) the statement of objectives as measurable, observable activities, (2) the possession of objectives by students as well as instructors, (3) the matching of instruction and tests to objectives, and (4) criterion referencing for student evaluation. When the project staff consulted teachers and district and state administrators about the type of materials considered most useful, teachers requested the adaptable, student-oriented type rather than curriculum guides. Materials were tested three times during the development (one-on-one testing, small group testing with one or two classrooms, and a field test which involved four to six classrooms), and pre- and posttests were administered to measure effectiveness. Tested classes ranged from seventh grade to adult, and eighty-six classes and fifty-nine teachers in ten counties were involved in the small group tests and field tests. The decisions considered most important in designing the series were to develop validated student materials and to choose a format which allows an instructor to choose individual units and select objectives. It was concluded that, based on reaction to date, those were good decisions. (Data tables and references are appended.) (VB)