During the 1980-81 school year, enrollments in vocational education programs totaled nearly 16.9 million and federal, state, and local capital outlays for vocational education increased by approximately $470 million from 1979-80 to an all-time high of $7.3 billion. Vocational education also served significantly increased numbers of handicapped, disadvantaged, and limited English-proficient persons during 1980-81. Also showing an increase was the number of men and women in programs that are considered nontraditional for their respective sexes. As part of planned economic development, 20 states and Puerto Rico have established quick-start vocational training programs that provided training for an estimated 110,000 persons in 1981-82. Regarding impact, studies indicate that secondary vocational education can make a significant, if limited, contribution to improving productivity and reducing income inequality. Enrollment in vocational education courses, furthermore, does not seem to limit additional educational pursuits, as all types of students participate in all types of postsecondary educational programs. Some researchers have also concluded that vocational education has some influence in preventing school dropouts. In summary, vocational education continues to contribute a consistent flow of skilled, entry-level workers from its regular secondary and postsecondary programs and to provide specialized training and retraining for adults, thereby simultaneously meeting the needs of students, employers, and communities. (Author/MN)