This paper, one of a series, presents findings from a Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education's project titled, "Higher Education and the Economy of the West," that was undertaken to analyze the impact of economic and social trends on the role of higher education in the West. Included are analyses of demographic, workforce, and educational data for 16 western states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. Data are reported for each state for: non-farm employment; industry employment outlook; top 10 occupations (most job openings; fastest growing) foreign exports; location of small business development centers and cooperative extension offices; number of postsecondary institutions; enrollments in state institutions of higher education by level type, control, and attendance status; undergraduate tuition and fees in state public institutions; higher education participation rates by race and ethnicity; and percent change in degrees earned at 4-year institutions by selected discipline. Data generally cover the period 1990-1996, but the period varies for some charts and states. (CH)