A study examined vocational education in the state of Missouri with respect to current and future labor market needs in the state, delivery systems for meeting these needs, and current funding patterns for Missouri's vocational and technical education program. Based on their analysis of employment projections for Missouri, the researchers concluded that the shift away from agriculture and manufacturing into the service occupations will continue and that high technology industries presently constitute less than 8 percent of Missouri's industrial sector. In 1983, Missouri had a total of 432 schools serving as the state's primary public vocational education delivery system at an annual cost of over $100 million. During the same year, vocational programs were supported by $14,089,735 in Federal grants, $24,265,914 in state allocations, and $81,555,241 in reported local contributions. After analyzing these data, the researchers formulated 25 recommendations directed at policymakers responsible for vocational education funding and programming in Missouri. Included among these were recommendations for developing vocational programs that strike a fine balance between meeting the immediate requirements of today's employers and assuring a labor force with the abilities, character, and flexibility to adapt to an uncertain future and for using labor market needs as the primary factor in determining levels of state fiscal support for new programs. The appendixes list four project consultants and members of the 1984 Vocational Study Committee. (MN)