Workforce Development & Economic Policy

Governors are working to expand economic opportunity and advance the nation’s global competitiveness by developing the skilled workforce and economic environment required for individuals, businesses and communities to thrive.

As the chief executive officers of their states, Governors set strategic priorities to align workforce and economic development activities to build a shared vision of societal and economic well-being. The NGA Workforce Development & Economic Policy program supports Governors and their appointees in developing and executing on these priorities.

Featured Initiatives 

NGA Workforce Development Technical Assistance Program

NGA provides advisors and other Governor-appointed state workforce system leaders with technical assistance on a broad range of workforce development policy issues through policy memoranda; in-state site visits and presentations, and facilitated connections with subject matter experts. The team also holds biannual convenings and monthly briefings and issues a weekly newsletter.


Workforce Strategic Planning Collaborative

The NGA Center’s joint project with the U.S. Department of Labor supports Governors and their advisors as they develop and implement their federally required four-year strategic plans for workforce development. Technical assistance offerings include an emphasis on implementation of federal investments that passed during the 117th Congress, namely the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, CHIPS and Science Act, and Inflation Reduction Act.


NGA Economic Policy Advisors and Economic Policy Technical Assistance

NGA provides Governor-appointed state economic development leaders and advisors with highly responsive and customized best practice research, strategic planning facilitation, timely information from federal partners and subject matter experts, and other support on a broad range of economic policy priorities. This includes an upcoming virtual event series as well as a bi-weekly newsletter.

Meet The Team


Focus Areas

  • Apprenticeship and youth apprenticeship
  • Sector-focused workforce and economic development strategies
  • Workforce development financing, governance, and innovation
  • Outdoor recreation & economic development  
  • Service-to-career pathways and public sector employment
  • IIJA, CHIPS and IRA implementation Future of work, digital transformation and digital skills
  • Disability inclusive workforce policy

Services Available

  • Strategic planning facilitation and best practice guidance on workforce and economic development topics or initiatives
  • Strategic guidance, feedback and meeting facilitation services for Governor-appointed state workforce development boards
  • Convenings for workforce and economic development advisors and state leaders on emerging issues
  • Regular newsletters for state workforce and economic development leaders
  • Customized research briefs and best practice presentations upon request

Workforce Development Library

Winter Workforce Policy Institute Highlights the Importance of Workforce Planning and Innovation

Winter Workforce Policy Institute Highlights the Importance of Workforce Planning and Innovation

Last month, the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) convened Governor-appointed workforce development policymakers in Washington, D.C. for the 2024 Winter Workforce Development Policy Institute. Representatives from ...
Talking Economic Development with Governor Beshear

Talking Economic Development with Governor Beshear

NGA’s Economic Development and Revitalization Task Force, Co-Chaired by Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear and South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, has jurisdiction over a broad range of issue areas, including infrastructure, ...
Sustaining Healthcare Workforce Planning and Development Through State and Territory Engagement

Sustaining Healthcare Workforce Planning and Development Through State and Territory Engagement

(Download) Governors continue to prioritize strengthening states’ and territories’ healthcare workforces. The National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (the NGA Center) has supported states and territories on their Governors’ ...
Skills-Based Hiring in the Public Sector

Skills-Based Hiring in the Public Sector

Over the past year and a half, Governors in more than a dozen states have taken intentional steps to remove barriers to employment in the public sector by removing unnecessary ...
Leveraging Early Childhood Apprenticeships to Support the Early Care and Education Workforce

Leveraging Early Childhood Apprenticeships to Support the Early Care and Education Workforce

On January 17, 2024, the National Governors Association Children & Families team hosted the monthly Human Services Policy Advisors Institute on supporting the ECE workforce through early childhood apprenticeships. Challenges ...
NGA Convenes Ten States to Explore Service as a Pathway to Economic Opportunity

NGA Convenes Ten States to Explore Service as a Pathway to Economic Opportunity

As Governors implement their workforce development policy agendas in the face of labor shortages in nearly every sector of the economy, state and national service programs offer a promising strategy ...
Service-To-Career Pathways

Service-To-Career Pathways

Governors across the country are navigating rapidly evolving labor force trends – worker shortages in nearly every sector of the economy, skills gaps created by new technologies, and increased cost ...
Disability Inclusive Workforce Policy Learning Collaborative

Disability Inclusive Workforce Policy Learning Collaborative

As Governors work to confront an extremely tight labor market, efforts to reduce barriers to workforce participation are increasingly critical for developing a skilled workforce and filling in-demand jobs. This ...
Six States Selected to Participate in NGA Disability Inclusive Workforce Policy Learning Collaborative  

Six States Selected to Participate in NGA Disability Inclusive Workforce Policy Learning Collaborative  

WASHINGTON – Maryland, Minnesota, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, and Vermont have been selected to participate in the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) Disability Inclusive Workforce Policy ...

Economic Policy Library

New State Models Emerging for Fostering Entrepreneurship

New State Models Emerging for Fostering Entrepreneurship

The NGA Center for Best Practices is presenting the webinar, New State Models Emerging for Fostering Entrepreneurship, on Tuesday, March 26, 2:30-3:30pm ET. In 2023, Nevada made history by becoming ...
Weaving State & Federal Manufacturing Support Strategies through Regional Consortia

Weaving State & Federal Manufacturing Support Strategies through Regional Consortia

The NGA Center and the American Manufacturing Communities Collaborative (AMCC) co-hosted a webinar on February 7 about how Governors can incorporate practices employed by regional manufacturing consortia that have federal ...
Governors Urge Congress to Fund Government, Avoid Shutdown

Governors Urge Congress to Fund Government, Avoid Shutdown

WASHINGTON – Today, National Governors Association Chair Governor Spencer Cox of Utah and Vice Chair Governor Jared Polis of Colorado released the following statement as Congress considers legislation to fund ...
NGA Sends Letter Outlining WRDA Priorities  

NGA Sends Letter Outlining WRDA Priorities  

The Honorable Tom CarperChairmanCommittee on the Environment and Public WorksUnited States Senate513 Hart Senate Office BuildingWashington, DC 20510 The Honorable Sam GravesChairmanCommittee on Transportation and InfrastructureUnited States House of Representatives1135 ...
Governors Share Housing Solutions

Governors Share Housing Solutions

No state is immune from housing supply challenges – from residents leaving states due to high costs and low affordability to lack of housing for public workers like fire, police, ...
Governors Call on Congress to Keep Government Open

Governors Call on Congress to Keep Government Open

Washington, DC – Today, National Governors Association Chair Governor Spencer Cox of Utah and Vice Chair Governor Jared Polis of Colorado released the following statement as Congress considers legislation to ...
Governors Discuss Artificial Intelligence Risks and Regulatory Priorities

Governors Discuss Artificial Intelligence Risks and Regulatory Priorities

Washington, DC – During the annual Winter Meeting of the National Governors Association (NGA), Governors welcomed tech pioneer Marc Andreessen for a discussion on the potential risks and benefits of ...
Talking Economic Development with Governor Beshear

Talking Economic Development with Governor Beshear

NGA’s Economic Development and Revitalization Task Force, Co-Chaired by Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear and South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, has jurisdiction over a broad range of issue areas, including infrastructure, ...
Improving Housing Availability and Affordability

Improving Housing Availability and Affordability

Governors are applying a multifaceted approach to lower housing costs by increasing funding for affordable housing, rethinking land use regulations, streamlining the permitting process and exploring housing innovations. Housing is ...