A study examined the views of private sector employers in Oregon on vocational education. During the study, researchers mailed questionnaires to a stratified random sample of 1,500 employers throughout Oregon. In addition, they surveyed another 140 employers who were identified as hiring the largest numbers of vocational education completers in the state. Finally, interviewers spoke with representatives of 10 Oregon firms that employ over 55,000 people. Virtually all the employers interviewed indicated that many entry-level employees are deficient in basic skills. Other frequently mentioned problems were poor work attitudes and a general lack of understanding about the world of business. While many of the employers interviewed indicated that their firms provide at least some type of on-the-job training, most agreed that additional training is needed in areas such as computer literacy, the need for retraining and lifelong learning, basic economics, and time management. When asked who should be responsible for performing these additional training functions, most of the respondents said that they should be the responsibility of educational institutions. Based on these findings, recommendations were made calling for increased cooperation between the educational and business sectors in areas such as job training and placement and for new legislation concerning tax credits to encourage businesses to donate equipment to vocational schools. (MN)