The 1990 U.S. Department of Labor Survey (DOL) of Workplace Literacy (WL) assessed the WL levels of applicants eligible for Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) training and of job seekers in Employment Service/Unemployment Insurance (ES/UI) programs. Data from the survey, including WL proficiency scores and data concerning respondents' socioeconomic and personal characteristics were analyzed to determine the relationship between the WL and labor market performance of unemployed workers in job training and employment programs. WL was determined to play a critical role in determining the labor market experience of the DOL client populations and was significantly correlated with hourly wages and with weeks worked in a 1-year period. Schooling was by far the most important determinant of WL; however, literacy-related activities at home and work also proved significant determinants of WL. Recommendations included calls for including WL learning gains in performance standards used to evaluate individual job training programs; considering individuals' level of WL when matching them to training programs/jobs, and incorporating WL as an integral component of job training. (Twenty-five tables/figures are included/appended. Contains 23 references.) (MN)