Problems in rural communities stem from the steady downtrend of employment in agriculture, forestry, and mining, while gains in non-farm industries have not been sufficient to offset this decline and provide jobs for a growing rural labor force. There is an increasing deficit of talent in rural areas due to urban migration. The overall strategy to cope with these problems must be to improve the capability of the rural work force to compete successfully for jobs and to create more jobs in rural areas. There is a lack of opportunity for rural youth for work experiences that lead to fulfilling careers without leaving home. Educational work in the field of labor management is being requested by employers in commercial agriculture at an accelerating rate. As a result of projects of Federal agencies, needs for technicians and skilled repairmen will continue to rise, thus imposing continuing demands on education. Through comprehensive planning by community action groups with the help of technical experts, better community facilities and improved educational and job training programs can be provided. (JH)