In Canada offender employment needs are most often addressed through institutional employment experience and training. Within the Canadian Federal correctional system, such training is done primarily through CORCAN, a special operating system that comprises institutional manufacturing (industries), agribusiness (farming), construction, services (e.g., keyboarding, data entry, and telemarketing), and textiles operations. In 1992 CORCAN reoriented its focus to the development and enhancement of generic employability skills, rather than specific job skills. It is expected that this reorientation will provide institutional employment opportunities that cater to the development of attitudes, skills, and abilities transferable to community employment situations. Despite certain advances, the small number of women offenders presents a challenge to CORCAN. Although one of the primary mandates of CORCAN is to contribute to offender rehabilitation through the provision of employment skills, an additional objective is to sustain economic viability as a special operating agency. Before developing formalized employment strategies and instituting comprehensive intervention approaches for female offenders, it would be useful to conduct a survey of incarcerated women and women on conditional release. It is important to obtain an enhanced understanding of women's work experience, training, and skills before and during incarceration. An evaluation of women's interests in pursuing particular vocational training and employment experience should also be conducted. 21 notes