Improving Vocational Education Programming through Greater Involvement of Trade Associations.

A study examined the.roYe of trade associations in vocational education programming. The primary objectives of the study were to identify ways to improve vocational education panning througli greater involvement of trade associations in wuys ' other than as suppliers of labor market information and to determIt4e whether national or state trade associations are likely sources ofuseful. laboi market information for vocational education planning. Approximately 100 candidate trade associations were identified from a preliminary survey of state directors of vocational education. Of.these, five national trade associations were selected for on-site case studies, and 53 state trade associations were selected for abbreviated case studies that were conducted by telephone. The case studies resulted-in findings dialing with the following aspects of the_role bf trade associations in vocational education: current operational activities conducted by trade associations in support of vocational education planning and programming and the prospects o