Businesses in South Dakota were surveyed to gauge employers' perceptions of vocational education, to determine the extent of private sector interaction with vocational education, and to document employers' experiences with vocationally trained and nonvocationally trained employees. The statistically valid random sample consisted of 347 small businesses, 319 large businesses, and 54 public sector employers. The major finding was that vocational education programs and graduates have solid employer support in South Dakota. A large share of employers had interacted with the vocational education system in some manner, for example, cooperative work experience programs, input in curricular decisions, or donations of equipment. Small businesses tended to be more positive toward vocational education than large businesses. A second major finding was the systematic differences between vocationally and nonvocationally trained workers. The employers praised cooperative work experience programs highly, showed strong support of the basic skill attainment of vocational education students, paid vocationally trained workers higher wages, and promoted them more quickly. Respondents made favorable remarks about certain programs but were critical of others. Several felt that courses should be developed and offered in specialized program areas. (YLB)