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To determine the relationship between wage structure and employment patterns available evidence on changes in relative earnings and in relative numbers employed were surveyed for periods up to 15 years in 10 countries: Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Some findings were: (1) Industrial, occupational, regional wage rankings and wage differentials have been quite stable over relatively long periods of time, (2) Job turnover rates tend to be high where pay is low, and vice versa, and (3) Industry earnings averages appear to be related to the degree of concentration and profitability. Some implications were: (1) Wages should not be interpreted as having a causal relationship with a changing pattern of employment, (2) A period of rising wages puts pressure on declining industries and occupations to release workers, and (3) Substantial wage raises are necessary to remedy the position of workers who are recognized as underpaid in their occupation. Changes in relative earnings may improve allocative efficiency in (1) attracting labor to remote regions, (2) reducing labor turnover, (3) preventing attrition of employees for which long training periods are required, and (4) attracting qualified people in newly emerging professional occupations. (DM)

Problems related to rapid reduction of the agricultural labor force were examined in the 21 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries. The size and changes of the agricultural labor force, economic forces tending towards change, technical requirements for labor in agriculture, and obstacles hindering economic adjustment of agricultural labor were scrutinized. Some conclusions were: (1) The exodus from agriculture has recently accelerated, (2) The highest rate of decrease was in the United States, (3) The outflow of agricultural labor has contributed to the nonfarm labor supply, (4) There is a decreased percentage of young adults in agriculture, (5) The agricultural exodus can primarily be explained by unfavorable incomes, and (6) Agricultural exodus is a normal part of economic change leading toward higher levels of living for all groups in a society. It was recommended that: (1) the trend towards fewer agricultural workers be recognized as a normal part of modern economic development, (2) mobility of manpower be recognized as beneficial to economic growth, (3) rural education be similar to that in the urban areas, and (4) economic activity be encouraged in areas threatened with de-population. The report contains separate chapters on Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Turkey, and the United States. (DM)