The need for partnerships among deliverers of training in the public and private sectors has reached a critical point if U.S. businesses are to remain competitive. The work force and workplace are being transformed by demographic trends, economic and employment trends, a growing skills mismatch, and concerns over educational effectiveness. Two responses to the changes are de-skilling of jobs and reorganization of work. Responses of the public and private training sectors to these problems and to collaborative efforts for solving them are affected by the history of private sector influence and involvement in job training policy. The failure of the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act led to greater emphasis on joint public-private efforts in the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) and Carl D. Perkins Vocational Education Act. The rationale for public-private linkages encompasses the arguments that they can improve national competitiveness and productivity, increase equity in access to employment, and enhance local economic development. Existing forms of collaboration provide guidelines for further attempts to build partnerships. Recommendations call for a greater investment in public education, reorientation of federal vocational education programs, modification of JTPA performance incentives, stronger federal support for public-private training initiatives, and public awareness. (Includes 60 references and a selected bibliography.) (SK)