This monograph describes the job-related basic skills requirements of the work force and explores ways of developing and improving the reading, writing, and computational abilities of workers. The paper first examines trends that are influencing the demand for basic skills, such as the decline in youth population and the increase in service and technology-related occupations, changing the nature of job skills requirements. The middle section presents three case studies of basic skills training programs: (1) a public/private sector effort to train disadvantaged persons in word processing, (2) a municipal government's retraining program to staff a wastewater treatment plant, and (3) the Functional Literacy (FLIT) project of the Department of Defense (DOD). Based on the demonstrated effectiveness of basic skills training that is integrated with real job requirements, guidelines and methods for skill development programs are discussed. This section highlights research on adult skills training, program development principles, and the DOD's Instructional Systems Development process. A list of references concludes the document. (SK)