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

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) ...
Workforce Development in the IIJA, CHIPS and IRA

Workforce Development in the IIJA, CHIPS and IRA

This toolkit draws on insight from federal officials to outline the most pertinent programs and opportunities for state workforce development policymakers to consider as they seek to play a proactive ...
Engaging Employers in the Apprenticeship System through IRA Tax Incentives

Engaging Employers in the Apprenticeship System through IRA Tax Incentives

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022 is the largest federal investment in clean energy in U.S. history and includes substantial tax incentives for employers who pay prevailing wages and ...
Disability Employment

Disability Employment

Expanding access to education, training, and high-quality employment opportunities for people with disabilities is a bipartisan priority for Governors ...
How Governors Can Execute Their Vision for Workforce Development: Policy Levers Available Through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act

How Governors Can Execute Their Vision for Workforce Development: Policy Levers Available Through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act

This brief outlines the menu of policy options Governors have available to them when assessing how to optimize their public workforce system so that it responds to their state or ...
How Governors are Supporting Apprenticeship, Youth Apprenticeship and Other Forms of Work-Based Learning

How Governors are Supporting Apprenticeship, Youth Apprenticeship and Other Forms of Work-Based Learning

Lessons From NGA Center’s Workforce Symposiums By Jordan Morang The bi-annual NGA Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) Workforce Symposiums provide an opportunity for state workforce leaders to address the ...
Infrastructure Workforce Resources

Infrastructure Workforce Resources

Governors and other state and territory leaders across the country agree on the urgent need to develop a qualified workforce to design, build and maintain infrastructure investments. Several states and ...
Digital Equity and the Future of Work: How Six Governors are Advancing Digital Skills for Equitable Economic Participation

Digital Equity and the Future of Work: How Six Governors are Advancing Digital Skills for Equitable Economic Participation

Hawai’i, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island brought together interagency teams to develop state plans to close digital skills gaps in priority industries, geographies and demographics in ...
6 States Awarded Grant Funding to Boost Workforce Participation, Economic Mobility

6 States Awarded Grant Funding to Boost Workforce Participation, Economic Mobility

Arkansas, Colorado, Indiana, North Dakota, Virginia and Washington to develop programs to promote skills-based training and hiring WASHINGTON D.C. – Arkansas, Colorado, Indiana, North Dakota, Virginia and Washington will receive ...

Economic Policy Library

New Relief Coming From Washington – What Does This Mean For Rental and Utility Assistance?

New Relief Coming From Washington – What Does This Mean For Rental and Utility Assistance?

Through the new Emergency Rental Assistance Program, Governors and local officials are providing emergency rental and utility assistance for effected individuals and families. by Jordan Hynes and Michael Bonino-Britsch Throughout ...
National Governors Association, Cognizant U.S. Foundation Launch Workforce Innovation Network to Support a Robust, Equitable Recovery

National Governors Association, Cognizant U.S. Foundation Launch Workforce Innovation Network to Support a Robust, Equitable Recovery

As Governors lead efforts to promote equitable and forward-looking economic recovery in their states and territories, the National Governors Association (NGA) Center for Best Practices announced the launch of the ...
State Roadmap for Workforce Recovery

State Roadmap for Workforce Recovery

This roadmap is designed to help Governors and state leaders address four objectives necessary to respond holistically to the unemployment crisis as well as to recover and build resilience in ...
Workforce Innovation Network

Workforce Innovation Network

The Workforce Innovation Network will help facilitate innovative state-level policy solutions that improve employment and workforce outcomes. This page should redirect to: https://www.nga.org/workforce-innovation-network/ If not redirected please click here to ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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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