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

State Roadmap for Workforce Recovery

This roadmap is designed to help Governors and state leaders address four objectives necessary to respond holistically to the unemployment crisis as well as to recover and build resilience in ...

Workforce Innovation Network

The Workforce Innovation Network will help facilitate innovative state-level policy solutions that improve employment and workforce outcomes. This page should redirect to: https://www.nga.org/workforce-innovation-network/ If not redirected please click here to ...

Exploring the On-Demand Economy in Colorado

To address the lack of place-based context needed to understand what drivers underlie trends in nonemployer work, the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, in cooperation with Colorado State University ...

Current Legal Protections And Opportunities For Supporting Workers

(Download) To explore how Governors and state leaders may better understand and support the on-demand workforce, in 2018 the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices and the Institute for ...

Registered Apprenticeship Reimagined

Lessons Learned from the American Apprenticeship Initiative (View/Download) Introduction Registered apprenticeship has traditionally experienced the most popularity in the skilled trades, and for several years was utilized at low and ...

Creating an Agenda for Workforce Recovery: A Workshop Series for States

A four-part design workshop series for Governors' advisors and state leaders to facilitate peer-learning, collaboration and the creation of a state agenda for workforce recovery. The NGA Center for Best ...

On-Demand Workforce Virtual Forum

The On-Demand Workforce Virtual Forum will convene participants to learn from subject matter experts and the consortium states’ key findings about how states can the improve their understanding of and ...

Understanding Quality: The Role of States in Supporting Quality Non-Degree Credentials

This issue brief provides guidance about how states can identify which credentials meet quality thresholds and are likely to empower workers, highlights states that are leading on this issue, and ...

State Workforce Development System Partnership with Vocational Rehabilitation Services to Address the Needs of People with Disabilities Impacted by COVID-19

(View/Download) Summary This memo describes ways that state Vocational Rehabilitation services (VR) programs are collaborating with state workforce development agencies and with state and local workforce development boards in response ...

Economic Policy Library

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 ...

NGA, NCSL Oppose Preemption Bill Under Consideration by Congress

The National Governors Association (NGA) and the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) today issued this statement in opposition to H.R. 2887, the No Regulation Without Representation Act of 2017: ...

2017 Policy Institute for Governors’ Economic Advisors

July 18–21, 2017 | Annapolis, MD The 2017 Institute for Governors’ Economic Policy Advisors allowed governors’ top economic development staff to network, learn from each other, and hear from experts ...

NGA Comments on Federal Tax Reform

MEMORANDUM To: Senator Orrin Hatch, Chair Senate Finance Committee Re: NGA Comments on Federal Tax Reform NGA believes that no fundamental tax reform can succeed unless it is an intergovernmental ...

Drone Innovation Act

The Honorable Jason Lewis United States House of Representatives 418 Cannon House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 The Honorable Julia Brownley United States House of Representatives 1019 Longworth Office Building ...

Drone Federalism Act

The Honorable Diane Feinstein United States Senate 331 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 The Honorable Michael Lee United States Senate 361A Russel Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 ...

State Officials Stress Importance of 2018 Farm Bill

The National Governors Association (NGA), National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) and National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) released the following statement today on states’ priorities for the 2018 Farm Bill: “Governors, legislators and chief state ...

Farm Bill Reauthorization

The Honorable Mitch McConnell Majority Leader United States Senate U.S. Capitol Building, Room S-230 Washington, DC 20510 The Honorable Charles Schumer Minority Leader United States Senate U.S. Capitol Building, Room ...