Goal 5 of the National Education Goals states that by the year 2000 every adult American will be literate and possess knowledge and skills necessary to compete in a global economy. An in-depth review of current research and literature on issues related to adult literacy and lifelong learning was conducted. The review focused on the following issues related to literacy and lifelong learning: the school-to-work transition; opportunities for training in the skills needed to adapt to emerging technologies, work methods, and markets; programs to meet the needs of part-time and midcareer students; projected increases in enrollments in college programs; and outcomes of college education related to critical thinking, effective communication, and problem solving. The following are among the major findings of research in these areas: (1) more adults are completing more years of education, and this trend will likely continue into the next century; (2) increasingly, adults are learning at all ages and in settings that vary widely with respect to degree of formality and organization; (3) technological advances are providing adults with more opportunities and options for controlling timing and setting of learning and are enabling postsecondary students to balance their time between work and education; and (4) ever-changing work environments require recurrent education. The literature review also revealed that there is little consensus on the definition of literacy and on what constitutes knowledge for citizenship and curricular areas likely to contribute to good citizenship. (Contains 92 references.) (MN)