The National Commission for Employment Policy has examined ways that the United States federal government could improve the economic situation of disadvantaged women. In particular, the Commission examined, during 1980, the role of education and employment and training programs in helping women to prepare for better paying occupations, and then made 20 recommendations to Congress for actions to be taken to improve women's opportunities. Recommendations for vocational education improvements included that Congress review provisions of the Vocational Education Act (1) to again focus attention on sex equity provisions; (2) to require a report on the progress that has been made in implementing these provisions; (3) to mandate states to detail sex equity considerations in their Five Year Plans; (4) to drop separate funding of consumer and homemaking programs; (5) to develop model programs to overcome sex stereotyping; (6) to direct the Department of Education to improve sex equity coordination and dissemination of information; (7) to work with the Office of Civil Rights; (8) to provide supportive services such as day care for children of women students; and (9) to increase the role of sex equity coordinators. The Commission recommended also that employment and training programs emphasize preparation for better paying occupations; provide linkages to unsubsidized employment; serve significant segments of the eligible population; provide supportive services; accept recently separated women regardless of income; increase participation of women in training and employment programs; and remove age limits from apprenticeship programs. (The document contains the research that supports the recommendations.) (KC)