The Higher Secondary Vocational Education programme in India was introduced in 1976-77, to boost the supply of manpower trained to an intermediate skill level. This paper uses data collected during a study of the impact of vocational business courses in the three states of Kerala, Goa and Haryana. The study collected information on a range of indicators of student background, their views on the vocational education programmes, their employment status following completion, as well as some idea of their reasons for enrolling. The study considers the findings from the three states and places this in context by drawing on the extensive literature in this area. As with many studies of this nature, there are limitations placed on our interpretation of the data. However, the main findings do support the view that a destination of "continued education and training" may act as a form of hidden unemployment for the most disadvantaged who graduate from vocational education and training programmes; reflecting a wider need for policies that ensure buoyant local labour markets, with sufficient and appropriate demand for labour, alongside vocational education and training programmes. (Contains 4 tables.)