This volume of an annual journal explores the problems and opportunities confronting young people attempting to find employment and the challenges faced by employment and training professionals trying to assist them along with some possible solutions. The 16 articles are divided into three parts concerned respectively with defining the problems, federal programs, and local initiatives. Part I includes: "The Place of the Family in the Preparation of Youth for the World of Work" (Quentin Schenk and Emmy Lou Schenk); "The Youth Employment Situation" (Janet Norwood); "Preparing At-Risk Youth for Education and Employment: New Roles for Schools" (Janice Earle, Candace Sullivan); "Productive Future Requires Educational Changes" (Bruce Wilson); and "Choices: Conscious Decisions about Youth and Work" (John Stine). The following papers are presented in part II: "Youth Initiatives" (William Brock); "Creating an Employability Credential for At-Risk Youth" (Evelyn Ganzglass, Sandra Jibrell); "Occupational Information: The Supporting Role of NOICC and SOICCs" (Valerie Lloyd, James Woods); and "Disabled but Able to Work: Federal Initiatives in Training Young People with Disabilities in Employment" (Dale Brown). The articles in Part III are: "Oregon Youth Offender Placement Program" (William Sager); "A National Occupational Information System" (Neta Wall); "Employment Counseling with Youth" (Charlotte Metz); "A History of the Seward, Alaska, Youth Employment Service" (Shirley Reynolds); "A Cooperative School Program: An Overview of the Minneapolis Youth Program" (Stella Jones); "A Utah County Perspective" (NaDene Archibald); and "National Youth Service: A Challenge for Employment Security Agencies" (William Basl). (YLB)