Millions of Americans are dissatisfied with the quality of their working lives with dull -- repetitive jobs that stifle autonomy and initiative. This year-long study prepared for the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare by the W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research brings together facts about the current nature of work and the workplace that have ominous implications for the social and economic strength of the nation as a whole.

The demand for this report has been tremendous; HEW's initial supply was exhausted within a few days after publication. The Boston...