A study assessed the attitudes of 702 Washington State employers toward vocational education at the secondary and postsecondary levels. The majority of respondents perceived community colleges and vocational-technical institutes, but not public high schools, to be doing a very good job of preparing students for job and careers. Over 90 percent regarded having a strong background in basic skills as very important. The most important competencies for high school and postsecondary vocational school graduates were positive work habits and attitudes. One-third of the employers had used community colleges or public vocational-technical institutes to train employees. Employers believed subject areas needing increased emphasis at secondary and postsecondary levels are math and English. On-the-job training was provided by 94 percent, training for the disabled by 13 percent, and training for displaced or unemployed workers by 12 percent. Almost 60 percent had been involved in a cooperative relationship with an educational institution. The report's recommendations included: integration of basic and employability skills into vocational education; a strong core curriculum of English, mathematics, and science for all secondary students; more school-business cooperation; and greater efforts by business to meet needs of dislocated and handicapped workers. (The survey instrument is appended.) (YLB)