This study examined age structure and changes in civilian participation rates in the South for 1940-1960. Age structure is defined as the distribution of employed workers in civilian occupations, while participation rates are percentages of employed persons of a specific age class as compared to the total Southern population. Participation rates for males of labor force age declined from 72.3 percent in 1940 to 68.3 percent in 1960 and for women they rose from 21.7 to 32.2 percent. The greatest increases in occupational employment participation rates occurred in occupations where there were high educational or occupational training prerequisites. Profound changes were recorded in white and nonwhite employment. Because of heavy out-migration, the proportion of nonwhite males in the labor force declined from 24 percent in 1940 to 17.5 percent in 1960 and for nonwhite women it dropped from 39.1 to 23.3 percent. A report on occupational employment levels, trends, and projections in the South is available as VT 010 239. (BC)