A study was conducted in Illinois to determine how effectively the vocational education system was meeting its responsibilities to train, retrain, and upgrade employed and unemployed workers in new skills for which there is a demand in the state, under the terms of the Carl D. Perkins Vocational Education Act of 1984. Responses were received from staff of Job Training Partnership Act service delivery areas, vocational education secondary regional delivery systems, community colleges, and state agency personnel. Respondents indicated that the state has various programs in place that provide strategies for identifying new skills for which there is demand in the state. It also has a system of effective planning and coordination between educational institutions and other providers in local areas. Many programs are available, instruction is often of good quality, and the private sector is involved as it suits its needs. Recommendations were made to define roles and expectations, provide incentives for expansion, promote programs for adult workers, meet both labor and management needs, coordinate programs, and continue exemplary programs. (KC)