According to testimony delivered by Franklin Frazier, Director of Education and Employment Issues at the U.S. General Accounting Office, at a Joint Economic Committee hearing of the U.S. Congress, the United States falls short in preparing noncollege youth for employment. The foreign countries reviewed in a study (England, Germany, Japan, and Sweden) have national policies aimed at developing a well-qualified noncollege-educated work force. Specific practices vary, but the following are shared by some or all of the four countries: (1) foreign school officials expect all students to do well, particularly in the early years; (2) in Japan and Sweden, comparable resources are allocated to all schools; (3) schools and employers in these countries systematically guide youth in their transition from school to work; (4) Germany and England develop competency-based national training standards and certify skill competency; and (5) large proportions of jobless out-of-school youth receive assistance. Making the following policy changes could improve education of youth for employment in the United States: (1) strengthen the commitment to have all children attain the academic skills necessary to perform effectively in postsecondary education or the workplace; (2) develop closer school-employer linkages, particularly to expand apprenticeship-type programs and to help youth obtain suitable entry-level employment; and (3) encourage development of skill training standards and competency certification. (KC)