Recent changes in patterns of population location, industrial employment, and technology in the north central United States have produced implications for vocational education in rural areas. Missouri has greater social, cultural, demographic, and economic diversity than other states in the region, but is representative of the area for purposes of developing implications for rural vocational education. Area vocational schools are the primary means through which Missouri's rural students gain vocational training opportunities. About 70% of those who graduate from secondary and postsecondary programs are employed as trained. However, a demand for some services in rural areas is not being met; no vocational training programs exist for many of the more interesting and remunerative careers in rural communities because there is no mass market for the skill. To correct this, Missouri has experimented with a contract vocational education program of apprenticeship training. Trainers are community residents and employers who have skills for which there is a demand and no existing training program. In addition, a four-year secondary vocational agriculture program emphasizes general knowledge and entrepreneurship. Areas of projected rural employment growth include health care, accounting, computer technology, repair services, law enforcement, child care, transportation, retailing, and energy related careers. Statistical trends in population, income, economic base and education are detailed for the north central states. (CM)