The importance of the link between education and work is examined along with current trends, including employment opportunities, the evolving structure of the American economy, and productivity. The positive, direct benefits apparent between work and education are that sound schooling benefits the individual, the employer, and the nation's economy. Careful research has revealed that workers who have completed high school or higher levels of education generally earn higher salaries. However, a sizeable proportion of college graduates are overqualified for the jobs they hold. More than 25 percent of all entry labor market workers have completed 4 years of college. However, economic productivity in the economy has declined since 1970. A marked decline in the size of the youth population, combined with an aging of the present work force, necessitates retraining of current workers. Lifelong learning, in the form of recurrent education, may embrace occupational and job training. Recurrent education intersperses educational opportunities over the lifetime of an individual with periods of work, leisure, and retirement. Recurrent education may help resolve technologically-precipitated skill obsolescence. It is to the self-interest of the country that improvements be made in the educational practices within formal schooling. (SW)