This investigation addressed the extent to which persons with disabilities separated from their jobs because of type of placement model, type of job, and job tenure. Level of disability was also studied as a factor. A total of 380 supported employees (ages 16-66) who separated from 411 jobs served as subjects. Results suggest that health- and economic-related reasons contributed to more job separations among persons with moderate, severe, or profound mental retardation and psychiatric disabilities, while lack of job responsibility and social-vocational behavior were reasons reported most often for persons with mild mental retardation. There were no significant differences among the three types of placements (individual, group, and mobile crew) and reasons for job separation. Among employees in janitorial/maintenance and food service occupations, poor production was the primary reason for job separation. Among supported employees in light-industrial positions, health was the major reason. Persons with mild mental retardation experienced significantly more positive changes in job status than persons with moderate to profound mental retardation or persons with psychiatric disabilities. Persons in individual placements experienced more positive job changes than persons in other placements, and persons in janitorial/maintenance positions or food service positions had more positive changes than persons in light industrial jobs. (15 references) (JDD)