The level of basic education skills among Nevada's adult work force and the effects of workers' basic skill levels on Nevada businesses were examined in a 1994 survey of 2,021 Nevada businesses employing 10 or more workers. Of the 1,163 businesses responding, 696 reported having 1 or more unskilled employees during May 1994. Of those 696 respondents, nearly 75% agreed that their employees' basic skills were generally adequate for their current jobs, 62% believed their job training would be more effective if employees had better basic skills, 23% had problems bringing in new equipment and had simplified some jobs due to inadequate basic skills in their labor pool, 11% had difficulty providing safety training because of employees' limited basic skills, and 15% said poor basic skills increased their operational costs by 5% or more. Eight actions that state agencies such as the Nevada Literacy Coalition and State Department of Adult Basic Education could take to improve Nevada's workplace literacy services were recommended. (Appended are summaries of survey responses regarding the following: problems resulting from workers with inadequate basic skills; workplace skills-related services Nevada state agencies should be providing; and effects of employees' basic skill levels on businesses.) (MN)