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
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

Hard at Work(force) Development

The NGA Center’s Workforce Development team had a busy fall with new publications on Actualizing the Promise of Youth Apprenticeship, Workforce Strategies for New Industrial Policies, and Aligning the Workforce ...

NGA Holds Governors Apprenticeship Innovation Summit

The National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center), in partnership with Cognizant, recently convened public and private sector leaders to showcase Governors’ leadership advancing apprenticeship. Held in Phoenix, ...

Governors Recognize 10th Annual National Apprenticeship Week

Washington D.C. — Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers and Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon, Co-Chairs of the National Governors Association (NGA) Education, Workforce and Community Investment Task Force, released the following statement ...

Education for Life – A Conversation with Dr. Steven Levitt

Measuring outcomes is one of the primary goals of NGA Chair Colorado Governor Jared Polis’ “Let’s Get Ready: Educating All Americans for Success” initiative. How are we measuring outcomes to ...

Service-to-Career Pathways Policy Academy and Community of Practice

In partnership with the Schultz Family Foundation and the Annie E. Casey Foundation, the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) is launching a Policy Academy to support ...

How Colorado is Transforming its Workforce through Skills-Based Practices

Colorado is at the forefront of a movement to transform state workforces. (View/Download) Since 2019, the State of Colorado has been experimenting with skills-based practices as a means to build ...

Aligning the Workforce System and Economic Growth: Best Practices from State WIOA Planning

This publication highlights elements of Governors’ 2024-2027 WIOA State Plans that meet USDOL goals, as well as those that integrate IIJA, CHIPS, and IRA funding and programs into the activities ...

NGA Holds Biannual Workforce Development Policy Institute in Mystic, Connecticut

With Governors focused on aligning workforce and economic development activities across states, NGA’s biannual Workforce Development Policy Institute brought together state leaders, including Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont, to discuss how ...

Workforce Strategies for New Industrial Policies: Governors’ Emerging Solutions

This brief is part of a larger research effort that dissects Governors’ workforce development leadership in their states. In this report, NGA highlights how Governors are leveraging new industrial policy ...

Economic Policy Library

Navigating the GenAI Frontier: Strategies for Governors’ Offices

Governors are working to maximize the benefits and mitigate the risks of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and NGA is assisting in identify both. Over the past year we have held a ...

Federal Agency Representatives Join 2024 NGA Summer Meeting

At the 2024 NGA Summer Meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah, representatives from multiple federal agencies held meetings with Governors’ staff members to focus on coordination between state and federal ...

New State Models Emerging for Fostering Entrepreneurship

Almost all net job growth is generated by businesses started less than five years ago, according to the National Bureau of Economic Research. Governors recognize the importance of new businesses ...

Governors Leading on Artificial Intelligence

As with any new technology, artificial intelligence (AI) offers a tremendous opportunity to improve society. But, as with any new technology, AI also has potential drawbacks. In the absence of ...

Weaving State & Federal Manufacturing Support Strategies through Regional Consortia

The NGA Center and the American Manufacturing Communities Collaborative (AMCC) co-hosted a webinar on February 7 about how Governors can incorporate practices employed by regional manufacturing consortia that have federal ...

Governors Urge Congress to Fund Government, Avoid Shutdown

WASHINGTON – Today, National Governors Association Chair Governor Spencer Cox of Utah and Vice Chair Governor Jared Polis of Colorado released the following statement as Congress considers legislation to fund ...

NGA Sends Letter Outlining WRDA Priorities

The Honorable Tom CarperChairmanCommittee on the Environment and Public WorksUnited States Senate513 Hart Senate Office BuildingWashington, DC 20510 The Honorable Sam GravesChairmanCommittee on Transportation and InfrastructureUnited States House of Representatives1135 ...

Governors Share Housing Solutions

No state is immune from housing supply challenges – from residents leaving states due to high costs and low affordability to lack of housing for public workers like fire, police, ...

Governors Call on Congress to Keep Government Open

Washington, DC – Today, National Governors Association Chair Governor Spencer Cox of Utah and Vice Chair Governor Jared Polis of Colorado released the following statement as Congress considers legislation to ...