Workforce Development, Higher Education & 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.

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

  • Portia Pratt, Policy Director, Higher Education
  • Sophia Yager, Policy Director, Workforce Development & Economic Policy
  • Malena Dailey, Senior Policy Analyst
  • Eric Aboodi, Policy Analyst
  • Kyra Gardner, 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

Strengthening Work-Based Learning Programs

Strengthening Work-Based Learning Programs

COVID has hit our workforce and economy hard. As governors, we offer this strategy for growth in 2022. by Governor Laura Kelly and Governor Spencer Cox All around us, there ...
Diversifying Partnerships for Success in Work-Based Learning

Diversifying Partnerships for Success in Work-Based Learning

Governors have the unique ability to convene and support diverse partnerships in WBL. Their WBL strategy should consider the full breadth of potential partnerships and how those partnerships can help ...
Ability to Benefit Action Lab

Ability to Benefit Action Lab

Ability to Benefit can help students without a high school diploma or equivalency qualify for federal financial aid for postsecondary career pathways programs. This virtual action lab, held in partnership ...
Leveraging Registered Apprenticeship to Build a Thriving and Inclusive Economy

Leveraging Registered Apprenticeship to Build a Thriving and Inclusive Economy

As Governors continue to navigate an evolving labor market and economic climate, registered apprenticeship can be leveraged as a proven strategy for bolstering both businesses and workers. (Download) Executive Summary ...
Return Utah: A Work-Based Learning Initiative for the Long-Term Out of Work

Return Utah: A Work-Based Learning Initiative for the Long-Term Out of Work

Staff from the NGA Center for Best Practices recently sat down with Utah Lieutenant Governor Deidre Henderson to learn about the Return Utah program. While in Utah, staff visited several ...
Infrastructure and Workforce Development

Infrastructure and Workforce Development

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will have a significant effect on the federal workforce system at large and there are a few key items that present new opportunities for ...
What the Infrastructure Package Means for Workforce Development: Opportunities for Governors

What the Infrastructure Package Means for Workforce Development: Opportunities for Governors

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act includes new allowable uses for transportation funds, investments in digital equity and inclusion, and planning to strengthen the transportation workforce. (Download) On November 15, ...
SNAP E&T Action Lab

SNAP E&T Action Lab

This Action Lab focused on leveraging Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment and Training (SNAP E&T) to expand access to and support student success in education and training programs that lead ...
National Governors Association Welcomes 6 States to 2nd Phase of Workforce Innovation Network

National Governors Association Welcomes 6 States to 2nd Phase of Workforce Innovation Network

Hawaiʻi, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island Join Network to Close Workforce Achievement Gaps by Advancing Digital Skill Development Building upon the success of the first phase ...

Economic Policy Library

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 ...

Yahoo Op-Ed: America’s Governors are Taking the Lead in Bringing Jobs to Their States

This is an opinion piece by Scott Pattison, CEO and executive director of the National Governors Association. He appeared at Yahoo Finance’s All Markets Summit. This piece originally appeared on Yahoo.  ...

Innovation, International Cooperation and the Future of Work Take Center Stage at the 2018 NGA Summer Meeting

WASHINGTON—Last week, 21 governors, their staff, policy experts, international leaders and business executives met in Santa Fe, N.M., for the 2018 NGA Summer Meeting. These thought leaders met for three ...
The National Governors Association Joins 10 Governors at SelectUSA

The National Governors Association Joins 10 Governors at SelectUSA

WASHINGTON—The National Governors Association (NGA) joined 10 governors at the SelectUSA Summit in Washington.  SelectUSA is an annual event hosted by the U.S. Department of Commerce encouraging foreign direct investment ...

Governors Support Agriculture Economy

The National Governors Association (NGA) released the following statement on the Senate’s passage of a farm bill: "The nation’s governors support America’s producers who are the backbone of our communities, ...

NGA Statement on Supreme Court Ruling in South Dakota v. Wayfair

The National Governors Association released today the following statement in reaction to the U.S. Supreme Court’s opinion in South Dakota v. Wayfair (No. 17-494) The National Governors Association praises today’s opinion by ...

NGA Statement on U.S. Municipal Securities as High-Quality Liquid Assets

NGA Statement on U.S. Municipal Securities as High-Quality Liquid Assets The National Governors Association today released the following statement in reaction to Congress’ support in treating U.S. Municipal Securities as High-Quality ...

Advanced Refunding

Dear Member of Congress: The national organizations listed above represent hundreds of thousands of public-sector entities that issue debt to finance and build the infrastructure that contributes to strong economies ...

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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