This study compared characteristics of adults with visual impairments who were either successful or unsuccessful in retaining jobs in competitive employment settings. Data were obtained from a database of vocational rehabilitation (VR) client cases collected from 1978 to 1986. The final sample included three groups: (1) a noncompetitive group of clients (N=506) unable to retain competitive occupations upon case closure; (2) a competitive group which closed in competitive employment but with a different job title (N=197); and (3) a perfect retention group who retained the same occupation and job title upon case closure (N=84). One hundred thirty-six variables were obtained from case file reviews and grouped into three categories: demographic variables, variables associated with the client's visual status, and variables associated with case expenditures. Results are reported in detail for such variables as: gender, race, age at referral, marital status, number of dependents, educational level, age at onset of blindness, public assistance dependency, and amount of rehabilitation training. Profiles were then developed of typical individuals in each of these three categories. The greatest distinctions between groups were found in the areas of: age at time of referral; level of education prior to entry into VR; education and training during VR; and level of visual impairment at the time of referral. An appendix lists all the variables. (Contains 22 references.) (DB)