Three broad categories were identified among 340 occupations at the four-digit level of the Australian Standard Classification of Occupations: positively/opportunistically engaged in the global economy (conceptual/creative, conceptual/technical); vulnerable (manufacturing, white-collar clerical, blue-collar operative, manual low skill); and insulated (vocational trades and in-person professional, skilled, and low skill). Analysis of Australian Bureau of Statistics data from 1986-2000 using these classifications revealed the following: (1) the Australian work force is 21% positively engaged, 35% vulnerable, and 44% insulated; (2) 62% of males and 47% of females are exposed to global competition; (3) the proportion of insulated and positively engaged workers rose slightly and vulnerable workers fell from 39% to 35%; (4) workers with vocational qualifications were underrepresented among the positively engaged; (5) although part-time and contingent employment grew faster than full time, especially in insulated occupations, the most rapid growth was in full-time positively engaged; (6) strongest growth in positively engaged was among workers 35-54, whereas younger workers declined in this group; and (7) manufacturing occupations have stagnated, whereas some vocational trades experienced continual growth. These two potential paths were discerned: increasing preparation for conceptual/creative and conceptual/technical occupations and/or maximizing job creation in insulated occupations. (Contains 6 tables and 24 figures in the text; appendices include 10 figures of trends by employment group and the classification of 340 occupations.) (SK)