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 117^th 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
Sally Rood, Senior Policy Analyst
Jordan Morang, Senior Policy Analyst
Sophia Yager, Senior Policy Analyst
Eric Aboodi, Policy Coordinator

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

National Governors Association Issues Guide for Building a Resilient Workforce Amid Technological Disruption

‘State Guide for Preparing the Future Workforce Now’ a Timely Resource as COVID-19 Accelerates Disruption As COVID-19 accelerates disruptions impacting the American workforce, the National Governors Association (NGA) issued the ...

Short-Time Compensation Programs as a COVID-19 Response and Recovery Strategy

(View/Download) Introduction This memo provides governors and state officials with an overview of the Short-Time Compensation (STC) program and opportunities for developing, promoting, and expanding state STC programs during the ...

Key Steps and Considerations for Building a COVID-19 Contact Tracing Workforce

(View/Download) Executive Summary As outlined in our Roadmap to Recovery, as states gradually reopen economic and social activities, they must build a robust public health infrastructure with the capacity to ...

State Strategies to Transition Dislocated and Incumbent Workers into High-Demand Industries

(View/Download) Background While disruptions caused by COVID-19 have led to unprecedented increases in unemployment, some industries are now experiencing regional workforce shortages as they escalate their operations to support the ...

Solutions for Rural Economies in Response to COVID-19

Summary Times of crisis often exacerbate the economic challenges faced by rural communities. Following the Great Recession, for example, unemployment in rural areas rose by 6 percent, and rates of ...

Delivering Workforce System Employment and Training Services Remotely

Summary Across the United States, American Job Centers (AJCs) provide a range of assistance to jobseekers, students, and businesses. Due to COVID-19, they have had to readjust their delivery methods ...

Economic Recovery Planning & Resources to Support Businesses and Local Communities

Businesses and economies across the world are feeling the impact of COVID-19. Despite having a robust economy just over a month ago, the effects of the virus are already slowing ...

Information and Guidance on Supporting On-demand Workers through the COVID-19 Crisis

Introduction This memo provides governors and state officials with an overview of the key issues related to on-demand workers during the COVID-19 crisis. For the purposes of this memo, “on-demand ...

CARES Act & Emergency Appropriations for Coronavirus Health Response and Agency Operations: Workforce Provisions Summary and Analysis

Note: Title II of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) contains detailed provisions on the design and implementation of Unemployment Insurance (UI) and other short-term unemployment ...

Economic Policy Library

Letter to Congress regarding urgency of passing Farm Bill

Letter from the National Governors Association, National Association of State Departments of Agriculture and National Conference of State Legislatures to congressional leadership regarding the urgency of passing a new Farm Bill ...

National Governors Association and State International Development Organizations Announce Partnership to Strengthen Global Trade

The National Governors Association (NGA) today announced a partnership with the State International Development Organizations (SIDO) to strengthen collaboration between governors and state international trade agencies, with the ultimate goal ...