On an overall basis, the United States is still the cheapest free world country in which to produce goods. If the United States is to retain this distinction, however, steps must be taken to reverse the trend toward yearly declines in the rate of gain in U.S. productivity. One way in which vocational education can help increase the productivity of the American labor force is to place less emphasis on the job- and industry-specific skills that can be taught most effectively by industry itself and to concentrate instead on preparing students for a world of work in which they must never cease learning and growing. In general, vocational education has neither the facilities nor personnel to provide effective training in high technology areas. What vocational education can do, however, is to train workers in the basic, transferable skills that they will need to succeed in the job-specific training that is best provided by the private sector itself. Vocational educators also need to develop courses that will teach students how to handle, manage, and just get along with others. To do this most effectively, teachers and administrators alike must make increased efforts to ascertain first hand exactly what skills business and industry require of their prospective employees. (A series of questions and answers is appended.) (MN)