During the 1982-1983 school year, the Illinois State Board of Education conducted an intensive study of the state's education-for-employment program. The study assessed the role of the state and local school districts in meeting the needs of their vocational, employment and training, career, and adult education programs. The board's study concluded that, in general, while the Illinois education-for-employment programs have served the state well for over 60 years, recent changes in society and in the nature of the work force have significantly affected several segments of education and have had special impact on education-for-employment programs. In the course of the study, five major problems were identified. Included among these were the fact that programs are too often driven by student interest rather than by labor market conditions, equipment used in such programs is often outmoded, the teaching staff of job-training programs is frequently in need of retraining, and a single educational entity is often unable to provide the necessary array of programs. The study concludes by recommending state leadership, local and regional initiatives and action to create a comprehensive education-for-employment program in Illinois, development of a new State Board of Education policy statement on education for employment, and development of a plan for the delivery of employment programs and services. (MN)