THE EXTENT AND PACE OF THE ADOPTION OF ELECTRONIC DATA PROCESSING TECHNOLOGY AMONG INSURANCE CARRIERS AND ITS EFFECTS ON INSURANCE OFFICE EMPLOYEES WERE STUDIED. QUESTIONNAIRE RESPONSES FROM 410 FIRMS, REPRESENTING ABOUT 89 PERCENT OF ALL INSURANCE CARRIER EMPLOYMENT, IDENTIFIED 305 FIRMS WITH ELECTRONIC DATA PROCESSING. OF THESE, 81 PERCENT RESPONDED TO A SECOND QUESTIONNAIRE REQUESTING DETAILED INFORMATION. ADDITIONAL DATA WERE PROVIDED THROUGH INTERVIEWS WITH 13 INSURANCE EXECUTIVES AND ANALYSIS OF RELEVANT PUBLICATIONS. FINDINGS INCLUDED--(1) INSURANCE COMPANIES ACCOUNTING FOR 80 PERCENT OF TOTAL INSURANCE CARRIER EMPLOYMENT HAD INSTALLED COMPUTERS, (2) AUTOMATION OF INPUT AND THE USE OF DATA TRANSMISSION NETWORKS WILL GROW, (3) THE GROWTH RATE OF OFFICE STAFF WILL DECLINE IN COMPUTERIZED COMPANIES, (4) THE USE OF ELECTRONIC DATA PROCESSING REDUCED EMPLOYMENT OF PUNCH CARD TABULATING MACHINE OPERATORS, CALCULATORS, AND ROUTINE CLERICAL RECORD KEEPING EMPLOYEES, (5) THE SLOWDOWN IN THE GROWTH RATE OF OFFICE STAFF MAY REDUCE OFFICE OPPORTUNITIES FOR NEW JOB SEEKERS, AND (6) OFFICE EMPLOYMENT WILL PROBABLY INCREASE ONLY 5 TO 10 PERCENT FROM 1965 TO 1975. THE IMPACT OF THE SLOWER GROWTH OF CLERICAL JOBS IN CITIES IN WHICH INSURANCE COMPANIES HAVE BEEN THE MAJOR SOURCE OF EMPLOYMENT FOR YOUNG WOMEN, AND THE PROBABLE INCREASED EMPLOYEE SELECTIVITY BY PERSONNEL OFFICES FOR ENTRY POSITIONS IN INSURANCE COMPANIES HAVE IMPLICATIONS FOR MANPOWER TRENDS AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE ECONOMY. THIS DOCUMENT IS AVAILABLE AS FS1.26--966 FOR 55 CENTS FROM SUPERINTENDENT OF DOCUMENTS, U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON, D.C., 20402. (PS)