Economic changes create stress as U.S. businesses progress toward building a high quality work force for the year 2000. Skills such as critical literacy, communication, writing, math, and interpersonal competence are desired. Critical literacy involves the higher order thinking skills: the ability to analyze, evaluate, and synthesize. In addition, employees should be adaptable, trainable, and retrainable. Older people, women, handicapped persons, and minority and immigrant workers will comprise the work force. Changes will take place in both four-year colleges and technical colleges. Strategies for teaching critical literacy skills will require changes in curriculum. Teachers should be in tune with adult learners. In addition, higher education must prepare itself to serve diverse ethnic and cultural communities. Faculty need the support of the college's administration to change curriculum. Finally, community colleges must improve linkages with business and industry. Two-year colleges must make building a high quality work force part of their mission. Plans of action should be developed for those groups of people that will comprise the work force. (This document includes 29 references and 64 supplemental readings.) (NLA)