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.

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

  • Jack Porter, Program Director
  • Sophia Yager, Senior Policy Analyst
  • Eric Aboodi, Policy Analyst
  • Malena Dailey, Policy Analyst

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

Supporting Successful Workforce Reentry for Justice-Involved Individuals

Supporting Successful Workforce Reentry for Justice-Involved Individuals

As Governors continue to address workforce shortages in nearly every sector of the economy, state workforce development policymakers and their private sector partners remain focused on increasing labor force participation ...
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Governors Tout Bold Investments in Workforce Development During 2023 State of the State Addresses

Governors Tout Bold Investments in Workforce Development During 2023 State of the State Addresses

A vast majority of Governors spent time during their State of the State addresses outlining their strategy for navigating 2023’s tight labor market, and bold investments in workforce development programs ...
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Letter on the health care workforce shortage

Letter on the health care workforce shortage

States and territories are working to address healthcare workforce challenges by advancing nursing, direct care, and behavioral health career pathways, supporting healthcare provider mental health and wellbeing, improving the collection ...
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Governors Propose Bold Economic Investments in 2023 State of the State Addresses

Governors Propose Bold Economic Investments in 2023 State of the State Addresses

In 2023 State of the State addresses, Governors outlined efforts to grow and diversify their states’ economies. In their 2023 State of the State addresses, Governors announced bold investments to ...
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Governors Focus on Affordable Housing

Governors Focus on Affordable Housing

In 2023 State of the State addresses, Governors outlined efforts to increase housing availability and improve affordability. The high cost of housing and what that means for communities is top ...
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Expanding Child Care for Student Parents and Training Pathways for Early Childhood Educators

Expanding Child Care for Student Parents and Training Pathways for Early Childhood Educators

The NGA Center in partnership with Education Strategy Group held a virtual action lab focused on expanding access to and affordability of childcare for student parents and the development of ...
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Academic and Career Success – 2023 NGA Winter Meeting Task Force Meeting

Academic and Career Success – 2023 NGA Winter Meeting Task Force Meeting

At the 2023 NGA Winter Meeting, Idaho Governor Brad Little and Colorado Governor Jared Polis co-hosted a discussion on how Governors are working to meet the needs of students today ...
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Workforce Shortages And Opportunities – 2023 NGA Winter Meeting

Workforce Shortages And Opportunities – 2023 NGA Winter Meeting

At NGA’s Winter Meeting Montana Governor Greg Gianforte led a discussion on workforce issues with Microsoft Vice Chair and President Brad Smith, Cognizant CEO Ravi Kumar, and AECOM Global Transportation ...
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Governors, Business Leaders Discuss Workforce Shortages, Opportunities

Governors, Business Leaders Discuss Workforce Shortages, Opportunities

WASHINGTON – The nation’s Governors were joined by Fortune 500 leaders to explore solutions to workforce shortages in a panel discussion during the Winter Meeting of the National Governors Association (NGA) ...
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Economic Policy Library

Letter on Canadian - U.S. Border Restrictions

Letter on Canadian – U.S. Border Restrictions

At this point in the nation’s work to get the economy back on track, it is imperative that the federal government work more closely and transparently with us and our ...
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State Equitable Recovery Coalition

State Equitable Recovery Coalition

Beginning in March of 2020, Governors took action to address once-in-a-lifetime economic circumstances by providing assistance to displaced small businesses and workers, while putting in place longer-term supports to help ...
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National Governors Association Launches State Equitable Recovery Coalition to Help States Advance Inclusive Economic Growth

National Governors Association Launches State Equitable Recovery Coalition to Help States Advance Inclusive Economic Growth

The National Governors Association (NGA) today launched the State Equitable Recovery Coalition to partner with other national organizations and build on existing efforts to drive equitable economic recovery and growth ...
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Streamlining State Business Regulatory Processes to Support Economic Recovery

Streamlining State Business Regulatory Processes to Support Economic Recovery

This paper explores high-profile state-level changes to regulatory compliance and administrative processes from the past year, and addresses ways to assess their value and the benefit of continuing them with ...
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State of the States - 2021

State of the States – 2021

Governors of states, territories and commonwealths are outlining their priorities for 2021 in state of the state or commonwealth addresses, as well as inaugural addresses for new and re-elected Governors ...
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Economic Development

Businesses – and the people who start them and work for them – create jobs and compete in the global marketplace. Accordingly, a state’s success depends largely on the smart ...
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NGA and NASWA Letter to Secretary of Labor Regarding Unemployment Insurance Fraud

NGA and NASWA Letter to Secretary of Labor Regarding Unemployment Insurance Fraud

The Honorable Marty WalshU.S. Secretary of LaborU.S. Department of Labor200 Constitution Avenue NWWashington, D.C. 20210 Dear Secretary Walsh: Congratulations on your nomination and confirmation as U.S. Secretary of Labor. Governors ...
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Governors Hogan and Whitmer Testify on Importance of Infrastructure Investment

Governors Hogan and Whitmer Testify on Importance of Infrastructure Investment

Governors struck a resoundingly bipartisan tone before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, speaking to the urgency of investing now and for the future as our infrastructure must rapidly ...
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Promoting Outdoor Recreation Through Health Policy

Promoting Outdoor Recreation Through Health Policy

Park Rx programs are being adopted by a small group of physicians all over the country who are prescribing the outdoors along with other medicines to help patients relieve stress, ...
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