Employers believe high school graduates have inadequate reading, writing, math, thinking, and communication skills. A declining number of good jobs for first-time workers can be attributed to employers' focus on retraining their remaining employees or in recruiting skilled and otherwise qualified workers who were laid off because of other organizations' downsizing efforts. A number of studies have been conducted to determine whether vocational education programs prepare students with those skills valued by employers. Most surveys in which employers compare employees who are vocational-technical graduates with general high school graduates reveal greater employer satisfaction with vocational-technical backgrounds. The appropriateness of the level of vocational-technical preparation desired by employers seems to vary depending upon the size of the organization each employer represents. Recommendations to ensure that vocational education will continue to deliver graduates who have the competencies demanded of the changing work force include teaching basic and technical skills and offering apprenticeship options. (Contains 10 references.) (YLB)