This manual was designed to help educators collect both general and specific information regarding labor market conditions within their community. Such information can be used to design employment training programs that will serve the needs of local employers as well as provide more information regarding employment opportunities for students enrolled in their programs. The manual provides the basics for researching, gathering, analyzing, and reporting on the local labor market. It explains how to use state and national studies of current labor markets in assessing local labor market changes and in identifying in what occupations employees are needed. It also introduces the means by which to construct usable data collection methods. A sample survey instrument is included. (KC)