This paper examines the transition of young adults from school to work over time and the role of education in facilitating the entry of individuals into high quality jobs in the primary labor market. A dual labor market perspective argues that the labor market is structured into primary and secondary sectors ("good" and "bad" jobs), that mobility between sectors is very limited, and that placement in either sector is related to structural inequalities. Substantial evidence suggests that labor market characteristics are influenced by location (urban versus rural). High School and Beyond data on approximately 15,000 young adults who graduated from high school in 1982 and were followed up through 1992 were analyzed to examine the relationships among workforce experiences, educational attainment, and various sociodemographic indicators. Results indicate that most people with a bachelor's degree or higher worked in primary sector jobs, while few individuals with a high school diploma or less held such jobs. However, access to primary sector jobs was also determined by urban-rural location, U.S. region, race/ethnicity, and gender. People who attended a rural high school, people from the South, Blacks, Hispanics, and females were more likely to work in the secondary labor market. Compared to those in primary sector jobs, persons working in the secondary sector had lower income, more spells of unemployment, more job training, and lower job satisfaction. Contains 38 references and 7 data tables. (SV)