The report is based upon base-year data collected in "High School and Beyond," NCES's national longitudinal survey of sophomores and seniors in spring 1980. Gainful employment is prevalent among high school youth. During the week prior to the spring 1980 survey, 63.2 percent of the seniors and 42.1 percent of the sophomores had been employed, i.e., had worked at least 1 hour for pay. Males were somewhat more likely than females to be employed. Minority youth, blacks in particular, were considerably less likely than whites to be employed. High school students in vocational programs had higher employment rates than those in general programs who, in turn, had higher rates than those in college preparatory programs. Males devoted more time to work than did females. Hours of work also varied by ethnic background and the school program in which the student was enrolled. Government-sponsored programs provided slightly less than 10 percent of the jobs held by high school students, but participation in such jobs differed dramatically by ethnic background and family income. Teenager employment tends to concentrate in certain entry-level jobs that require low skill and little commitment. Only a weak relationship was evident between time spent on work and time spent on homework and watching television. Students who worked more than 20 hours a week spent slightly less time reading than did students who did not work; they tended more often to drive or ride around for pleasure. No differences were found with respect to such other activities as reading the front page of the newspaper, talking with parents, spending time alone, talking with friends on the phone, or visiting with friends.