Since 1976 the Management Board of the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training has given top priority to the problem of youth unemployment. Analysis of the employment and training situation among young people showed the emergence of structural deficiencies in vocational training and employment opportunities and the importance of developing an integrated education, training, and employment program for young people. Accordingly, there is a need for change in the relationship between general and vocational training courses in the final years of secondary education and improvement in the range of attractive training and education opportunities during the transition from school to work. Further study has found that short-term schemes prompted by the current economic situation are not enough to eliminate deficiencies. Although positive results have been achieved with work procurement schemes for young people, they should form part of a comprehensive employment program for all workers. Another suggestion is the improvement of cooperation between schools and firms through the development of alternative training. There is a need for a new form of transition from school to work and from work to school; suitable legislation and collective agreements are required. The Centre has been and will continue to examine new avenues including the possibility of developing a form of postsecondary education designed to combat unemployment, finding and improving the link between vocational training and work procurement schemes, determining the role and purpose of training contracts between young employees and firms as a means of increasing training, and investigating the cost of financing training and postsecondary education and the possibility of spreading costs between government and the private secrtor. (KC)