This report analyzes recent English-language research on basic skills in the workplace. Part A, a thematic guide to the field, includes detailed references to publications listed in Part B. Section A1 indicates the scope. It defines basic skills and underlines the importance of other terms, especially key skills, information and communications technologies (ICT), English for speakers of other languages (ESOL), and "other languages" regularly used at work in the United Kingdom. Section A2 defines approaches to basic skills in the workplace, including workplace as a site for basic skills training, situated literacies, and functional analysis. Section A3 discusses major themes in research on workplace basic skills, such as ESOL, ICT, and mathematics; scope of workplace basic skills; relationship between basic skills and workplace change and between basic skills and other forms of training; and the role of trade unions. Section A4 on effectiveness of current workplace basic skills programs shows evidence from successful good practice about what works and what does not. Section A5 addresses who writes about workplace basic skills, including academic researchers, government agencies, membership organizations, and worker-students. Section A6 indicates future research needs. Section B1 lists 92 references. Section B2 contains 103 listings in an annotated bibliography under headings related to contexts, themes, and issues defined in Part A. Part B3 lists 43 contacts and websites. (YLB)