An examination of data pertaining to the participation of adult residents of New York in the Adult Literacy Education Program during 1981-82 revealed that many of the 85,400 adults served by the program moved from being illiterate and unemployed or on welfare to being employed and independent of public assistance. The majority of those participating in the program were female Caucasians between the ages of 16 and 24 who had attained a 5.0 to an 8.9 grade education. Among those participating in the program, 10,870 received high school equivalency diplomas, 1,791 went on to postsecondary education, and 6,195 went on to further educational training. With respect to social development, 512 became United States citizens and 1,584 registered to vote for the first time. Of those completing the program, 21 percent (7,549 students) upgraded their jobs or received a salary increase. In all, 4,567 program participants found jobs. Analysis of the actual tax dollars spent on the program as opposed to the tax dollars realized because of the increased earnings of the program participants indicated that the program resulted in a net gain of $5,781,044. At present, approximately 20,450 adults are waiting to enter an adult literacy program in the state of New York. (MN)