A study was conducted to identify and organize a discussion of the most important issues to be considered in building or modifying an occupational employment projection system to best suit local area conditions and information needs. After a review of information-generating techniques in use by various public agencies, state offices and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the various forecasting techniques were classified into four major approaches. These approaches are (1) the Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) program based upon the industry-occupation matrix used by the BLS; (2) regional econometric models used to represent the complex economic relationships among sectors of a local economy; (3) the regional input-output model approach, which describes in detail the inter-industry linkages (purchases and sales) within the local economy; and (4) employer surveys. It was concluded that, in general, neither regional econometric nor input-output models can significantly add to the overall quality of occupational employment projections that are currently being developed using the OES approach. Ten recommendations are made for future employment needs-trends projections research and practice. (KC)