This report examines whether people who left welfare between 1997 and 1999 were more disadvantaged or less job-ready than were an early group who left welfare between 1995 and 1997. The study compared barriers to work and economic outcomes using data from the National Survey of America's Families. Overall, results found little evidence of poorer outcomes for recent leavers. Characteristics of the two groups were similar, except for the larger percentage with adverse health conditions in the recent group. Even given that difference, employment, wages, hours, earnings, and receipt of government benefits were similar across the two groups. There was a significant decline in the percentage of families with monthly income below the poverty level in the more recent group. More recent leavers experienced a better labor market than did the earlier group. Although employment rates for leavers did not significantly increase, the rates for women with children and less than or equal to a high school education did increase. The recent group reported more experience with economic struggles such as worries about having enough food and difficulties paying rent. The significant percentage of health problems and high returns to welfare indicated continuing problems for leavers. (SM)