This document is an exploratory study of issues and evidence related to academic skills, nonacademics, and work along three lines of inquiry. Section 1 is an introduction that explains the three lines of inquiry: literature review to identify empirical studies and salient issues pertinent to academic skill needs; new analysis of existing data from a previous study of seven technical jobs; and analysis of existing longitudinal survey data on high school students to define different types of skills and example their relationship to a variety of postschool outcomes. Section 2 discusses the literature on the following: skill and ways of measuring it; skill transfer; definition/redefinition of the disciplines; situated learning; and the value of academic skills. Section 3 examines mathematics, science, and technology skills in seven technical jobs. Section 4 is a quantitative analysis of existing longitudinal data sets regarding the need for academic and nonacademic skills in the labor market and the value of extracurricular activities and labor market work while in school. Section 5 is a summary. The report contains 91 references and 14 tables. Appended are scenarios demonstrating the application of workplace skills in practice and information about the data samples and variable definitions. (MN)