This book summarizes a 4-year program of research and consultation in vocational-technical education and training conducted by the Education and Employment Division of the Population and Human Resources Department of the World Bank. The introduction outlines the structure of the analysis and the research base on which it was developed. Part 1, which discusses the record of research and experience, contains chapters on skill markets and modes of training, the record of vocational-technical education, and the economic environment of skills development. Part 2 examines policy options in chapters devoted to the following: designing responsive public training policies, establishing market-oriented labor force planning, mobilizing employer and private training, improving responsiveness and efficiency in public training, and understanding the role of training in poverty reduction. The two chapters of Part 3 discuss planning for policy reforms and international assistance. An annotated appendix of 42 evaluation studies in developing countries and a statistical appendix are included along with 15 tables, 9 figures, and 45 boxes. Contains 310 references. (MN)