Workforce Development & Economic Policy

A top priority of the nation’s Governors is expanding economic opportunity and advancing the nation’s global competitiveness by developing the skilled workforce and economic environment required for individuals, businesses and communities to thrive and prosper. As the chief executive officers of their states, Governors are responsible for setting strategic priorities that align workforce and economic development activities across their states toward a shared vision of societal and economic wellbeing. The NGA Center supports the nation’s Governors by sharing best practices and providing technical assistance services to state leaders including Governors’ economic policy advisors, Governors’ workforce development policy advisors, state economic development organization leaders, state workforce development board chairs and state workforce agency leaders. Focus areas include reducing barriers to economic participation; fostering economic dynamism and job growth; and providing training and employment opportunities that support employers’ talent needs and lead to family-sustaining careers.

Latest

State Workforce Leaders Explore Strategies for Confronting Talent Shortages at NGA Winter Workforce Symposium

State Workforce Leaders Explore Strategies for Confronting Talent Shortages at NGA Winter Workforce Symposium

With talent shortages challenging almost every sector of the economy, Governors and state workforce system leaders are focused on boosting the supply of both skills and of workers in the ...
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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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State Longitudinal Data Ecosystem

State Longitudinal Data Ecosystem

The National Governors Association in partnership with the Data Quality Campaign is working with states in a new learning ecosystem to help Governors’ offices and other state officials better understand ...
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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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Featured

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.


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Workforce Development 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 ...
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States Expand Opportunities for People with Disabilities

WASHINGTON—The National Governors Association (NGA) today announced a new project aimed at helping states expand training and employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Five states – Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Indiana and Maryland – have ...
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NGA Letter on Professional Licensure Reciprocity

March 27, 2018 The Honorable Mark T. Esper Secretary of the Army 101 Army Pentagon Washington, DC 20310-0101 The Honorable Richard V. Spencer Secretary of the Navy 1051 Navy Pentagon ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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Work-Based Learning Policy Academy Cross-State Meeting

Work-Based Learning Policy Academy Cross-State Meeting

January 17-19, 2018 | Indianapolis, IN The National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) hosted a policy academy meeting focused on assisting state workforce and education leaders to ...
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States Continue Advancing Strategies to Scale Work-Based Learning

States Continue Advancing Strategies to Scale Work-Based Learning

Summary States increasingly need a more highly skilled workforce to meet the requirements of businesses, keep up with a rapidly changing economy and accelerate growth that leads to economic opportunity ...
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States Continue Advancing Strategies to Scale Work-Based Learning

States Continue Advancing Strategies to Scale Work-Based Learning

This paper is a guide for how governors can lead the way on expanding work-based learning opportunities as part of a pathway to career advancement for youth and young adults ...
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Tax Reform (State and Local Tax Deduction, Private Activity Bonds, and Advance Refunding)

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 ...
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Economic Policy Library

Federal Insurance Office (FIO)

The Honorable Jacob J. “Jack” Lew Secretary of the Treasury U.S. Department of the Treasury 1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20220 Dear Secretary Lew: Governors believe that states must ...
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Marketplace Fairness

The Honorable Bob Goodlatte Chairman Committee on the Judiciary United States House of Representatives 2138 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C.  20515 The Honorable John Conyers Ranking Member Committee on ...
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Testimony – Business Activity Tax

Statement of David Quam, Deputy Director, National Governors Association before the House Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform, Commercial and Antitrust Law on H.R. 2992, the “Business Activity Tax Simplification Act of ...
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New Engines of Growth: Five Roles for Arts, Culture and Design

New Engines of Growth: Five Roles for Arts, Culture and Design

This report focuses on the ways that arts, culture, and design can assist states as they seek to create jobs and boost their economies in the short run and transition ...
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Testimony – Enhanced Rescission Authority

Mr. Chairman and members of the Subcommittee, I am pleased to appear before you today on behalf of the nation’s governors on the issue of state line item veto rules ...
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Testimony – ARRA Oversight

Chairman Towns, Ranking Member Issa, members of the committee, on behalf of the nation’s governors, thank you for holding a hearing to review and discuss state efforts to implement the ...
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Testimony – Stimulus Oversight

Chairman Lieberman, Ranking Member Collins, members of the committee, on behalf of the nation’s governors, thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today to discuss state efforts to ...
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Testimony – Economic and Employment Impact of the Arts and Music Industry

Chairman Miller, Ranking Member McKeon, and members of the committee, my name is John Thomasian and I am the director of the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA ...
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Arts & the Economy: Using Arts and Culture to Stimulate State Economic Development

Arts & the Economy: Using Arts and Culture to Stimulate State Economic Development

Through the creative industries, states have an opportunity to create jobs, attract investments, generate tax revenues, and stimulate local economies through tourism and consumer purchases. (View/Download) Arts and culture are ...
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