The countries of the European Community represent a commitment to European economic and political unity as part of a trend toward the globalization of the world's economic life. Economic, social, and political challenges are bound up in economic competitiveness. Countries are examining human resource issues in order to compete for the world market. As skilled and knowledgeable labor are scarce, continuing investment in training and development play a role in business success across the continent and in the global market. Work force demographics in the United Kingdom are an important issue. Although the United Kingdom produces many Ph.D.s., the middle and lower levels of education are not well represented. Sixty percent of students leave school at age 16, when school attendance is no longer compulsory. Some United Kingdom manufacturing is based on a low skill level because the average skill level of workers is low. The aging work force is a major trend; people are living longer, and fewer are being born. It appears that women and minorities make up the new work force. However, discriminating attitudinal barriers exist. The more organizations attract, retain, and develop skilled employees, the more their employees can do to further the production of goods and services that will be in demand in the global economy. There are four "lessons" for managers in the study of European Community: (1) human resource development is not a perquisite; (2) the changing work force is real; (3) quality is the key to competitiveness; and (4) stick to the basics of human resource management. (NLA)