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

Action Lab on Youth Apprenticeship

Action Lab on Youth Apprenticeship

In its role as a national partner in the Partnership to Advance Youth Apprenticeship, the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) hosted a virtual action lab on ...
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Supporting Workers with Disabilities by Addressing the Mental and Behavioral Health Workforce Shortage

Supporting Workers with Disabilities by Addressing the Mental and Behavioral Health Workforce Shortage

A lack of psychiatrists, clinical social workers, therapists and other healthcare workers severely limits a state’s ability to serve workers experiencing stress, anxiety, depression and other mental health conditions that ...
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Lessons Learned In Workforce Innovation: How Six States Are Planning to Advance Digital Skills for Equitable Economic Participation

Lessons Learned In Workforce Innovation: How Six States Are Planning to Advance Digital Skills for Equitable Economic Participation

Governors are prioritizing digital skill development across the education and training continuum, from K-12 curriculum to upskilling and reskilling for workers and adult learners. (Download) Executive Summary The COVID-19 pandemic ...
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State Strategies to Foster Inclusive Apprenticeships for People with Disabilities

State Strategies to Foster Inclusive Apprenticeships for People with Disabilities

Building inclusive apprenticeship programs for people with disabilities is a proven strategy that can lead to strong wages, a pathway to future career opportunities and sustainable permanent employment in high-quality ...
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Summer 2022 Workforce Symposium: Engaging Stakeholders to Advance Digital Skills

Summer 2022 Workforce Symposium: Engaging Stakeholders to Advance Digital Skills

NGA Workforce Innovation Network state grantees partner with employers to bridge the digital divide and adapt to the digital transformation of work By Sophia Yager The COVID-19 pandemic prompted a ...
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State Workforce Leaders Convene in Oklahoma City to Share Best Practices, Common Challenges at Bi-Annual Symposium

State Workforce Leaders Convene in Oklahoma City to Share Best Practices, Common Challenges at Bi-Annual Symposium

State workforce development boards and agencies play a crucial role in driving innovation and best practices that lead to better employment opportunities for their residents. by Jack Porter On August ...
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Advancing Economic Mobility for Low-Income Families: Policy Options for Governors

Advancing Economic Mobility for Low-Income Families: Policy Options for Governors

As we look to post-pandemic recovery, it will be critical to ensure that individuals have access to resources and supports that not only help them meet basic needs but also ...
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Skills-Driven State Community of Practice

Skills-Driven State Community of Practice

The National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center), in partnership with Jobs for the Future (JFF), has launched a project to help Governors’ offices and other senior state ...
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Next Generation of the Healthcare Workforce Project

Next Generation of the Healthcare Workforce Project

The National Governors Association Center for Best Practices is working with States in a new learning collaborative on strategies to grow and retain the next generation of the healthcare workforce ...
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Economic Policy Library

Outdoor Recreation Learning Network – Annual Meeting 2021

Outdoor Recreation Learning Network – Annual Meeting 2021

The annual meeting will discuss how states can advance outdoor recreation issues including economic recovery from COVID-19, developing partnerships to leverage limited public dollars, accessing federal economic development grants, promoting ...
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State Initiatives for Small Business Recovery During the COVID-19 Pandemic Economic Crisis

State Initiatives for Small Business Recovery During the COVID-19 Pandemic Economic Crisis

This memo summarizes a variety of types of state small business initiatives launched or expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic and economic crisis. (View/Download) Key Takeaways The state small business initiatives ...
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Letter on Unemployment Insurance and Economic Recovery

Letter on Unemployment Insurance and Economic Recovery

We call on Congress to take action before the end of 2020 to ensure that state and territorial unemployment programs will continue to meet the needs of the millions of ...
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Putting CARES Act Funds To Work: Getting Main Street Back on its Feet

Putting CARES Act Funds To Work: Getting Main Street Back on its Feet

“As the state has rolled out over $1 billion of the CARES Act monies to the individuals and businesses affected by COVID-19, it became evident the group most overwhelmingly hurt ...
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Putting CARES Act Funds To Work: Prioritizing Testing and PPE to Protect Americans

Putting CARES Act Funds To Work: Prioritizing Testing and PPE to Protect Americans

Federal support is needed to ensure that states and territories have the necessary PPE and testing resources to protect our health care workers, all Americans, and continue to safely open ...
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Putting CARES Act Funds to Work: Investing in Education, Investing in Recovery

Putting CARES Act Funds to Work: Investing in Education, Investing in Recovery

Federal support is needed to ensure school safety, as well as protect public health, stimulate the economy, coordinate and support vaccine distribution, and help prevent tax increases. Our recovery is ...
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Coronavirus Relief Fund Eligibility Items

Coronavirus Relief Fund Eligibility Items

States and local governments are spending money from the CARES Act quickly and wisely. This list illustrates the level of complexity and increasing number of eligible items that states, territories ...
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National Governors Association Leadership Calls on Congress to Prioritize State and Local Aid

‘This Is a National Problem, and It Demands a Bipartisan and National Solution’ WASHINGTON – New York Governor and National Governors Association Chairman Andrew Cuomo and Arkansas Governor and NGA ...
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Policy Making During a Pandemic: Navigating the New Normal and What Lies Ahead Roundtables

Policy Making During a Pandemic: Navigating the New Normal and What Lies Ahead Roundtables

Throughout the month of October, NGA will be hosting four policy roundtables for state policymakers and NGA experts to discuss today's most pressing policy priorities. We will convene to discuss ...
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