Current labour market developments, i.e. decreasing manpower demands, aggravation of selection, will in the years ahead confront vocational rehabilitation policy, too, with important decisions in terms of expanded service provision or intensified selectiveness. Short-term economic, labour market-oriented cost-benefit considerations will in this process be opposed by longer-term, education and social policy ones. The risk of lasting ruptures occurring between the employment-possessing population and the long-term unemployed, or those in highly jeopardized jobs, with the new social inequities thus generated, will in particular have to be given attention in future decision-making.