A study of business and labor was conducted to define the performance skills expected of those entering the workplace in the 1990s and beyond. Survey respondents were 1,120 business people and 26 labor representatives in Illinois of whom 90 participated in follow-up roundtable discussions. Respondents identified and rank ordered nine basic skills: reading, writing, and math; communication; employability; critical thinking; group and teamwork; personal and career development; keyboarding and computer literacy; leadership; and basic concepts of technology systems. Key actions that respondents felt were essential for encouraging education to bring about needed change included the following: (1) use statewide performance standards to measure student learning; (2) report student performance achievements on report cards; (3) provide remedial education until students demonstrate mastery; (4) establish entrance requirements for vocational education; (5) test and report student performance on nine basic skills; (6) certify students who achieve industry standards; (7) establish accountability measures; (8) reevaluate credentialing of educators; (9) hold educators accountable for student performance; and (10) integrate work-based experiences. The following suggestions for business-education partnerships were made: establish business advisory groups, provide volunteer personnel, support work-based learning options, support teacher internships or summer jobs, and expand apprenticeship programs. (Names of survey respondents and roundtable participants and survey results are appended.) (YLB)