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Show Utah Foundation Identify Critical Needs in Vocational Education spends relatively less for vocational education," the Foundation notes. "In 1978 Utah's expenditure for vocational education was $22.26 per capita, below the U.S. average of $25.57. However the Utah figure was slightly above the $22.07 per capita average for the eight Mountain States." Vocational courses are provided in Utah high schools, and there are vocational programs at all state-supported state-supported post-high school institutions in-stitutions except the University of Utah. The Utah Technical Colleges at Salt Lake and at Provo specializee in vocational education, and there are a number of other vocational facilities catering to students at both high school and post-secondary levels. Some criticism is levelled at high school programs, which are charged with being avocational rather than training students to enter the work force. Surveys taken by the State Board of Education indicate that nearly one-fourth of Utah's high school seniors intend to go directly into the work force after graduation and need adequate preparation if they are to find acceptable career opportunities. op-portunities. Graduates of Utah college-level vocational programs generally appear ap-pear to have no problem finding suitable jobs. Current concern over vocational education in Utah led to the appointment ap-pointment by the Governor of a blue-ribbon blue-ribbon study commission, which presented a summary report in Dec. 1979. The commission presented an outline for an improved program designed to meet Utah's needs, from the point of view bofh oT employers and of young people seeking rewarding rewar-ding careers. The commission's proposals envisage a coordinated program, creating an early awareness of vocational opportunities and advantages as early as the grade school level, pre-vocational career-exploration opportunities at pre-secondary (junior high school) level, and high quality training at both high school and post-high school levels, with close coordination between bet-ween the secondary and post-secondary post-secondary programs. Vocational training programs would also be closely coordinated with the changing needs of business and industry. Educational leaders estimate the cost of implementaing the study commission's recommendations at approximately $16 million over the next five years, this amount being in addition to the cost of the present program. Utah is currently spending about $37 million a year on vocational education, and over $750 million for all aspects of education. Needed improvements to Utah's program of vocational education are estimated to cost $16 million over the next five years, but this cost appears minor in comparison to the benefits to be realized and to the loss that might be suffered if the improvements are not made, according to Utah Foundation, Foun-dation, the private non-profit research agency. At the present time there is a marked demand for skilled workers to fill the Utah's expanding industry, while the number of Utahns adequately trained to fill the attractive at-tractive employment opportunities is far below the demand, the Foundation notes in a research report released this week. "In 1978, Utah provided 36,000 new jobs (exclusive of job openings due to replacement needs), and about one-fourth one-fourth of them were filled by people coming from out of state," the Foundation states. "It is expected that at least 60,000 skilled workers will have to be brought into the state in the next five years, but Utah vocational leaders believe that if the state's vocational training program is improved, we can largely meet our long-range requirements for skilled labor." Most of the labor market demand is in the vocational area, requiring a high degree of training, but less formal education than is required for a four-year college degree. Projections Projec-tions indicate that the percentage of vocational-type jobs will probably increase in the future. Job analysts warn that it is misleading to try to relate the record of job openings at any given time with immediate prospects open to the job-seeker. job-seeker. Job openings at a fairly high level are probably not actually "open" to the unemployed job seeker. Most such positions are filled by promotion within the establishment, and there may be several within-ranks within-ranks advancements before there appears an actual opening for a job applicant from outside, usually at a level considerably below that of the original vacancy. Vocational educators are quick to point out that this does not detract from the value of quality vocational training. A person taking an entry-level entry-level job will have much better prospects for rapid advancement if he is properly trained to handle a higher position. Utah presently has vocational programs operating at both secondary secon-dary (high school) and post-secondary post-secondary levels. However, the vocational programs appear to receive less ; attention than other areas of education, even though two-thirds two-thirds of the career employment opportunities lie in the vocational field. "Utah has frequently led the nation, and almost always ranked near the top, in its expenditure per capita for all aspects of education, but the state |