Since the U.S. Office of Education figures showed (at the time of this report) that on the average, 850,000 young people were dropping out of high school every year, 800,000 more were graduated from high school with no specific marketable skills, and 900,000 were dropping out of universities, junior colleges, and training schools, the study described in this report, conducted by the National Assessment of Educational Progress, was designed to determine what these different groups knew that would help them cope with the world of work. (Four age levels--9, 13, 17, and adults aged 26-35--were respondents in the study conducted during 1973-74.) This report presents, via summary data, work-related knowledge and skills, or proficiency levels, of the four age levels and delineates the proficiency of each group according to such variables as region of the country, race (black and white), education level of parents, and size and type of community. Three chapters are included. Chapter 1 briefly discusses major findings. Chapter 2 contains definitions of the population groups and item sets analyzed in the study, and a description of the conventions used to report the data. Chapter 3 examines and compares statistical data relating to the different groups' levels of performance. Chapter 3 discusses implications. (SH) Primary type of information provided by report: Results (Selective).