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

A Discussion On Occupational Licensing Reform

Arizona Doug Governor Ducey and Governor Laura Kelly of Kansas share how occupational licensing reforms support workers, military families, and help to address labor shortages. Recorded at the National Governors ...
NGA 2020 Winter Meeting

NGA 2020 Winter Meeting

The NGA Winter Meeting provides a forum for governors and other state leaders to discuss policy successes and best practices, to engage with experts and leaders from the private sector, ...
Parents and Children Thriving Together: A Framework for Two-Generation Policy and System Reform

Parents and Children Thriving Together: A Framework for Two-Generation Policy and System Reform

(View/Download) Executive Summary This brief explores the lessons learned from the 2016 Parents and Children Thriving Together: Two Generation State Policy Network (PACTT Network), a collaboration between the National Governors ...

National Governors Association Names 6 States to Mentor Peers on Work-Based Learning

The National Governors Association (NGA) Center for Best Practices competitively selected six states – Alabama, Nevada, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Utah and Washington -- to mentor peer states in building ...

How Governors Scale High-Quality Youth Apprenticeship

(View/Download) Executive Summary The outlook for high school graduates who have no postsecondary or industry-recognized credentials can appear bleak. Today, it is critical that young people obtain at least some ...
Education Topic Papers a Governor’s Dual Enrollment Framework for Success

Education Topic Papers a Governor’s Dual Enrollment Framework for Success

Summary This topic paper details how dual and concurrent enrollment programs can help states overcome workforce readiness and postsecondary access and completion challenges and how governors can strengthen these programs ...

Improving Workforce Readiness Through Social-Emotional Skills and School Climate

Oct. 21-22, 2019, Santa Fe, NM The National Governors Association (NGA) Solutions: The Center for Best Practices Education Division (NGA Education) hosted a cross-state Learning Collaborative on the topic of ...

Future Workforce Now State Policy Forum for Action

Oct. 16-18 | Chicago, IL States were invited to assemble teams to convene in Chicago, IL for the Future Workforce Now: State Policy Forum for Action from Wednesday, Oct. 16, ...
NGA 2019 Summer Meeting

NGA 2019 Summer Meeting

Governor Steve Bullock, 2018–2019 NGA Chair, formally opens the 2019 Summer Meeting, welcoming all participants to Utah and presiding over a conversation about his initiative, "Good Jobs for All Americans." ...

Economic Policy Library

Parents And Children Thriving Together: Two-Generation State Policy Network Midpoint Meeting

March 19-20, 2018 | New Brunswick, NJ Two-generation strategies seek to promote children’s learning and healthy development while simultaneously promoting the parents’ success as both caregivers and breadwinners. The National ...
NGA 2018 Winter Meeting

NGA 2018 Winter Meeting

Session videos from the National Governors Association Winter Meeting 2018 which took place February 24 & 25 in Washington DC View Full Playlist ...

Parents and Children Thriving Together: The Role of State Agencies in Crafting a Statewide Two-Generation Strategy

Summary Governors are responsible for ensuring that state government systems meet the needs of low-income families as effectively and efficiently as possible. Two-generation policy strategies can make a range of ...

Tax Reform (State and Local Tax Deduction and Municipal Bonds)

The Honorable Mitch McConnell Majority Leader U.S. Senate Washington, D.C. 20510 The Honorable Chuck Schumer Minority Leader U.S. Senate Washington, D.C. 20510 The Honorable Paul Ryan Speaker U.S. House of ...

NGA Joins State, Local Coalition ‘Americans Against Double Taxation’

The National Governors Association (NGA) has joined Americans Against Double Taxation, a coalition comprised of state and local government organizations, education and other public service providers and housing organizations. All of ...
State Strategies for Venture Capital and Rural Development

State Strategies for Venture Capital and Rural Development

This webinar featured model rural programs from the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s State Small Business Credit Initiative. It was open to all governors’ economic policy advisors, commerce directors, and ...

SELF DRIVE Act

The Honorable Paul Ryan Speaker United States House of Representatives 1233 Longworth House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 The Honorable Nancy Pelosi Ranking Member United States House of Representatives 233 ...

Highway Trust Fund Rescission

The Honorable Rob Woodall U.S. House of Representatives 1724 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Dear Representative Woodall: The National Governors Association (NGA), the National Conference of State Legislatures ...

SELF DRIVE Act

The Honorable Greg Walden Chairman Energy and Commerce Committee United States House of Representatives 2185 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 The Honorable Frank Pallone Ranking Member Energy and Commerce ...