The dual challenges of competing in a world market and rapid technological advancements have necessitated redesign of the workplace into an innovative work environment known as the high-performance workplace. This environment requires knowledge workers capable of solving problems, creating ways to improve the methods they use, and engaging effectively with their coworkers. In the 21st century, workers will need transferable core skills necessary for career success at all levels of employment and for all levels of education. The American Society for Training and Development has identified 16 employability skill groups across all job families. The U.S. Department of Labor's Secretary's Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills (SCANS) identified 36 necessary employability skills, including the ability to use competencies in the following areas: resources, interpersonal skills, information, systems, and technology. Despite earlier misconceptions about SCANS, recent studies in Nevada and Canada have been successful in validating, updating, and regionalizing generic employability skills and competencies over time. Although contextual integration of employability skills into curriculum has been a slow process, recent trends in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom are encouraging. Considerably more research is needed on creating and assessing curriculum that integrates the learning of employability skills contextually. (Contains 17 references.) (MN)