A study was conducted at Maryland's Howard Community College (HCC) to examine employers' views of the job readiness and vocational preparation of HCC graduates. The study sample included 55 employers of 1985 HCC graduates who agreed to have their employer contacted. The nursing program had the highest representation in the study sample, which…

This document responds to the need for integration of basic skills into vocational education by providing a summary of research findings, implications, and practical suggestions for teachers. The six sections and four complementary posters are intended as tools for staff development of teachers engaged in teaching basic skills. Sections can also…

This document contains four papers (and an introduction by William Wilhelm) on teaching "soft" skills in business education programs. "The Skill Building Challenge: Preparing a Bridge for the Workforce Skills Gap" (Sheila M. Smith) examines the following topics: the workforce skills gap; the importance of academic and…

Mercer County Community College (New Jersey) and six small businesses used federal grant money to develop a model program of workplace literacy that would assist 600 adult workers with inadequate basic skills in performing their jobs. In analyzing the overall skills of the work force, the literacy audit identified these basic skills/literacy…

This paper describes and critiques a 1989 employer/alumni study conducted by the University of Tennessee at Knoxville (UTK) and four other state postsecondary institutions. The study was designed to: (1) develop a questionnaire to tap opinion about graduates' preparation and a method of administration that could be used by both 2- and 4-year…

An employer needs assessment was conducted in the Wisconsin Indianhead Vocational, Technical, and Adult Education District to develop a profile of local employers; determine the vocational education training levels required by the employers; ascertain employers' roles in training; and determine employers' perceptions of Wisconsin Indianhead…

This curriculum guide was prepared for use in an introductory occupations course required of all New York State students taking a sequence in vocational education. Compiled by a partnership that included organized labor, the curriculum guide is based on New York State law, but the concepts and approaches could be adapted for use in other states.…

A survey of over 3,800 employers found that school-provided vocational training was required for 9.5 percent of the jobs studied and "important but not required" for another 37.9 percent. In this study, new employees with relevant vocational education exhibited these characteristics: (1) were 6.5 percent more productive 6 to 36 months after being…

This study was conducted to describe and to analyze how employers respond to information presented to them on application forms and interviews when they make hiring decisions for entry-level jobs. The approach of the study was to observe the responses of 56 employers in the Columbus, Ohio, area to simulated hiring settings concerning youthful…

Far West Laboratory conducted a series of interviews with employers to identify the characteristics of a successful applicant for entry-level professional employment. The job opportunities investigated were possible avenues of employment for college graduates in general studies fields, and did not include those requiring specialized degrees or…

A year after graduation, a survey was attempted by the Massachusetts Board of Regents of all 1981-82 career graduates of public community colleges in the state (N=5,267). Of the 1,881 responding graduates, 847 reported that they were employed full-time, and 737 of the working graduates gave the board permission to contact their employers for an…

This guide was developed for the Southern Regional Education Board's High Schools that Work (HSTW) program in order to help employers and educators work together to raise student achievement by making high school valuable and relevant. Its purpose is to involve employers in the HSTW effort to build community support for higher-quality learning by…

This paper examines: (1) what those who directly employ and educate America's students after they leave high school think of the quality of the U.S. elementary and secondary schools; (2) what recent students and their parents think of the quality of the education they or their children received; and (3) what a cross section of Americans think…

This paper examines changing demographics in the American work force during the 1990s and implications for the economy, for America's ability to compete globally, and for industry and education. In response to these workplace and demographic changes, the National Association for Industry-Education Cooperation utilized the technique of networking…

A project was conducted in Australia to investigate the most effective ways whereby learners receive informal and formal support to assist them to successfully complete vocational education and training (VET), either in school or in business job-training programs. Data were collected through a literature review, a case study of 11 organizations,…