A two-year study was undertaken of the contraction in the traditional career market for individuals with advanced training in the humanities. The focus was on how, in new circumstances, gifted people trained in humanities disciplines can best contribute to society. Employment of these individuals outside the education sector is a relatively new phenomenon, and is met with some hostility from employers. Graduate students in the humanities have little knowledge of nonacademic career possibilities, although a large minority are interested in and have an aptitude for administration. The New York Regents statewide plan of 1976 has as a primary objective to ensure that the major shift in the distribution of academic talent throughout society in the next few years does not seriously underutilize the important resource of those trained in the humanities. (MSE)