To prepare young people and adults for labor market success, career-technical education (CTE) practitioners must know how to find and use work force information. Recent federal legislation, including the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, underscores the importance of work force education. The nationwide work force information system makes data on labor market conditions and trends accessible through analysis and delivery tailored to users' needs. For CTE, the following are key work force information uses: (1) helping students and parents make informed choices about secondary and postsecondary education and careers; and (2) helping practitioners and policymakers make decisions about programs, curriculum, and resource allocation and about improving linkages with employers. The following are among critical areas for improving the work force information system: (1) strengthening local data; (2) improving data quality, consistency, and timeliness; (3) filling key data gaps; (4) improving analysis and information delivery; and (5) obtaining customer feedback. To face the problems encountered in accessing and using work force information, CTE practitioners can use guidelines and standards developed by the National Career Development Association and the Association of Computer-Based Systems of Career Information. (An annotated list of six Internet sources and a list of five references are included.) (MN)