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

Governors Leading on Skills-Based Hiring to Open Opportunity Pathways

Governors Leading on Skills-Based Hiring to Open Opportunity Pathways

Skills-based hiring is a method of recruiting employees that prioritizes a candidate's competencies over more "traditional" qualifications like degrees. This hiring strategy can remove barriers that currently screen out qualified ...
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How Governors Are Addressing Housing Access and Affordability and the Connection to Workforce Success

How Governors Are Addressing Housing Access and Affordability and the Connection to Workforce Success

Governors are increasingly confronting both workforce and housing shortages in a whole of government, complementary manner to not only ensure economic mobility but also to make sure businesses reach their ...
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Governors Lead the Way on Behavioral Health Workforce Needs

Governors Lead the Way on Behavioral Health Workforce Needs

New research from the National Council for Mental Wellbeing shows that 83% of the behavioral health workforce believes providers will not be able to meet the demand for mental health ...
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Governors Lead on Solutions to Improve Mental Health in the Workplace

Governors Lead on Solutions to Improve Mental Health in the Workplace

More than half of Americans will be diagnosed with a mental health condition in their lifetime and may experience associated barriers to entering and maintaining employment. At a time when ...
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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

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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Letter on the health care workforce shortage

Letter on the health care workforce shortage

States and territories are working to address healthcare workforce challenges by advancing nursing, direct care, and behavioral health career pathways, supporting healthcare provider mental health and wellbeing, improving the collection ...
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Governors Propose Bold Economic Investments in 2023 State of the State Addresses

Governors Propose Bold Economic Investments in 2023 State of the State Addresses

In 2023 State of the State addresses, Governors outlined efforts to grow and diversify their states’ economies. In their 2023 State of the State addresses, Governors announced bold investments to ...
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Governors Focus on Affordable Housing

Governors Focus on Affordable Housing

In 2023 State of the State addresses, Governors outlined efforts to increase housing availability and improve affordability. The high cost of housing and what that means for communities is top ...
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Expanding Child Care for Student Parents and Training Pathways for Early Childhood Educators

Expanding Child Care for Student Parents and Training Pathways for Early Childhood Educators

The NGA Center in partnership with Education Strategy Group held a virtual action lab focused on expanding access to and affordability of childcare for student parents and the development of ...
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Academic and Career Success – 2023 NGA Winter Meeting Task Force Meeting

Academic and Career Success – 2023 NGA Winter Meeting Task Force Meeting

At the 2023 NGA Winter Meeting, Idaho Governor Brad Little and Colorado Governor Jared Polis co-hosted a discussion on how Governors are working to meet the needs of students today ...
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Workforce Shortages And Opportunities – 2023 NGA Winter Meeting

Workforce Shortages And Opportunities – 2023 NGA Winter Meeting

At NGA’s Winter Meeting Montana Governor Greg Gianforte led a discussion on workforce issues with Microsoft Vice Chair and President Brad Smith, Cognizant CEO Ravi Kumar, and AECOM Global Transportation ...
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Economic Policy Library

Broadband

Broadband

Access to fast, reliable broadband is critical to households, businesses, and communities in the modern economy. The ongoing COVID-19 public health emergency has underscored the necessity of broadband access for ...
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Governors Urge Congress to Finalize FY23 Spending Package

Governors Urge Congress to Finalize FY23 Spending Package

States and territories succeed when there is certainty and stability in federal resources. The Honorable Nancy PelosiSpeaker United States House of Representatives The Honorable Kevin McCarthy Republican Leader United States ...
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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 ...
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States Convening to Discuss Improving Economic Mobility

States Convening to Discuss Improving Economic Mobility

From coast to coast, Governors are committed to improving economic mobility outcomes for families in their states and are investing in innovative programs—including in fields traditionally underutilized for economic security—and ...
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Congress Passes Short-Term Funding, Governors Call for Full-Year Appropriations

Congress Passes Short-Term Funding, Governors Call for Full-Year Appropriations

Today, National Governors Association Chair Governor Phil Murphy of New Jersey and Vice Chair Governor Spencer Cox of Utah released the following statement after the Senate and House passed a ...
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What Inflation Means for States and Territories: A Two-Part Briefing Series

What Inflation Means for States and Territories: A Two-Part Briefing Series

With inflation grabbing headlines and putting a financial squeeze on many households in recent months, the National Governors Association hosted a two-part briefing series for Governors’ staff and state and ...
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Advancing Economic Mobility for Low-Income Families: Policy Options for Governors

Advancing Economic Mobility for Low-Income Families: Policy Options for Governors

As we look to post-pandemic recovery, it will be critical to ensure that individuals have access to resources and supports that not only help them meet basic needs but also ...
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Letter Urges Congress to provide a one-year extension of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program

Letter Urges Congress to provide a one-year extension of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program

The Honorable Ron Wyden ChairmanSenate Committee on Finance 219 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 The Honorable Richard E. NealChairmanHouse Committee on Ways and Means 2309 Cannon Building Washington, ...
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The CHIPS and Science Act of 2022

The CHIPS and Science Act of 2022

The CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 (P.L. 117-167), a bipartisan law, focuses on federal aid to encourage the construction of microprocessor manufacturing facilities in the United States. The objective ...
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