Workplace literacy was the focus of attention during the era of the National Workplace Literacy Program (NWLP), funded by the U.S. Department of Education from 1988-1996. Since then, it has not disappeared, in part because recent legislation such as the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) and Welfare Reform Act has increased the work-related focus of adult basic and literacy education. At the national level, projects such as the National Institute for Literacy's Equipped for the Future are signs of continued federal attention to workplace literacy. Much of the leadership now resides at the state level. At the local level are WIA and union-funded programs. What is missing, however, is leadership and support from policy makers and funders. During the NWLP era, two instrumental assumptions were as follows: (1) a direct relationship exists between inadequate basic skills and economic problems and (2) the functional context approach is the most effective way of improving basic skills. However, assumptions about the relationship between individual skills and the economy tend to overlook such factors as globalization, how organizations structure work, and social and economic policies. Alternatives to functional context such as participatory and sociocultural approaches are being advocated. Since NWLP ended, there is still a great deal of workplace literacy activity, and adult educators are still dealing with many of the same issues. (Contains 14 references.) (SK)