THE ROLE OF THE ORGANIZATION FOR ECONOMIC COOPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT IS ILLUSTRATED IN REPORTS OF VARIED RETRAINING PROGRAMS (PART OF THE ACTIVE MANPOWER POLICY) IN GREAT BRITAIN, FRANCE, AND SWEDEN. THE PROGRAMS INCLUDE SUCH ACTIVITIES AS--(1) FINANCIAL ENCOURAGEMENT OF INDUSTRY TO PARTICIPATE IN TRAINING THE OLDER ADULT, (2) RETRAINING TO MEET SPECIFIC SHORTAGES IN THE WORK FORCE, (3) TRAINING FOR FUTURE INDUSTRIAL NEEDS, AND (4) PROVISION OF TRAINING ALLOWANCES. SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH DONE IN ENGLAND HAS PROVIDED EVIDENCE THAT IT IS SOUND PUBLIC POLICY TO INVEST IN TRAINING OF OLDER PERSONS, AND SPECIALLY-DESIGNED TRAINING FOR THEM IS VERY EFFECTIVE. THE RESULTS OF TWO STUDIES DEMONSTRATE AN ACTIVITY METHOD OF LEARNING IS SUPERIOR TO MEMORIZATION, AND WHEN INFERENCE, OR DEDUCTION, IS INTRODUCED INTO PROGRAMED AND ACTIVITY LEARNING, SUCCESS IS GREATER THAN BY EITHER METHOD, AS WELL AS BY MEMORIZATION. A HIGH DROPOUT RATE AT COMMENCEMENT OF TRAINING AND AFTER TRANSFER TO THE WORK SITUATION, AND LOW EMPLOYMENT IN LARGER, MORE ADVANCED FIRMS WERE ALSO REVEALED BY SURVEYS. INFORMATION RESULTING FROM THESE STUDIES IS BEING APPLIED IN EXPERIMENTAL PROJECTS IN FIVE COUNTRIES. THIS PAPER WAS PRESENTED AT THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON MANPOWER TRAINING AND THE OLDER WORKER, WASHINGTON, JANUARY 17-19, 1966. (PT)