One in six adults (16 percent) engaged in some skill-building activity outside the workplace in 1996 according to this new report based on the 1997 National Survey of America's Families. Though federal reforms mandating work as a condition for public assistance were just being legislated, the percentage investing in new skills was significantly greater for welfare recipients and food stamp recipients (28 percent and 21 percent respectively). The report reviews five types of investments in stronger work habits and substantive job skills by welfare status and level of education. The report also finds significant state variation in the proportion of all adults and of food stamp recipients participating in education and training activities.