This document reports the oral and written testimony of a large number of witnesses who testified at Congressional hearings in April 1988 on the topic of employment by the year 2000. The four days of hearings were convened to assess the nation's ability to respond adequately to the changes in domestic labor markets, projected employment opportunities, increased international trade competition, and projected skill deficits in the labor force through the year 2000. The testimony showed that this nation must use its collective resources to invest in the technical competency and intellectual capacity of its people. Economists, labor industry experts, academicians, local government officials, and representatives from varied public interest groups had one principal concern: that the employment prospects of a large share of the future labor force are seriously threatened with too few and inadequate training opportunities, a decline in low-skilled jobs, illiteracy, criminal activity, drugs, and a growing underclass. Testimony showed that by the year 2000, the pool of potential workers will be mostly composed of persons who lack basic job readiness skills and meaningful commitments to the labor force. Finally, according to the witnesses, the United States will face an unprecedented socioeconomic challenge. The country must enable itself to step forward toward the cutting edge of technological and economic change. It can do that only with sound investments in education and training. (KC)