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.

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Early Wins: A Tailored Tool For A Big Problem

Early Wins: A Tailored Tool For A Big Problem

Policymakers and technologists who are working to build learning and employment records talk about the ways they could transform how people navigate education and work—supercharging competency-based education, skills-based hiring, and ...
State and Local Leaders Urge Congress to Extend TANF Program

State and Local Leaders Urge Congress to Extend TANF Program

The Honorable Ron Wyden ChairmanSenate Committee on Finance 2221 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 The Honorable Jason SmithChairmanHouse Committee on Ways and Means 1011 Longworth House Office BuildingWashington, ...
Governors Urge Congress to pass appropriations for fiscal year 2024

Governors Urge Congress to pass appropriations for fiscal year 2024

WASHINGTON – Today, National Governors Association Chair Utah Governor Spencer Cox and Vice Chair Colorado Governor Jared Polis released the following statement strongly urging Congress to swiftly pass appropriations for ...
State Workforce Leaders Explore Opportunities for Strategic Leadership at NGA Summer Workforce Symposium in Fargo

State Workforce Leaders Explore Opportunities for Strategic Leadership at NGA Summer Workforce Symposium in Fargo

Last month, the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) convened two affiliate networks for its biannual Workforce Symposium in Fargo, North Dakota– the National Association of State ...

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

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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
Governors, Business Leaders Discuss Workforce Shortages, Opportunities

Governors, Business Leaders Discuss Workforce Shortages, Opportunities

WASHINGTON – The nation’s Governors were joined by Fortune 500 leaders to explore solutions to workforce shortages in a panel discussion during the Winter Meeting of the National Governors Association (NGA) ...
Workforce Development in the IIJA, CHIPS and IRA

Workforce Development in the IIJA, CHIPS and IRA

This toolkit draws on insight from federal officials to outline the most pertinent programs and opportunities for state workforce development policymakers to consider as they seek to play a proactive ...
Engaging Employers in the Apprenticeship System through IRA Tax Incentives

Engaging Employers in the Apprenticeship System through IRA Tax Incentives

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022 is the largest federal investment in clean energy in U.S. history and includes substantial tax incentives for employers who pay prevailing wages and ...
Disability Employment

Disability Employment

Expanding access to education, training, and high-quality employment opportunities for people with disabilities is a bipartisan priority for Governors ...
How Governors Can Execute Their Vision for Workforce Development: Policy Levers Available Through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act

How Governors Can Execute Their Vision for Workforce Development: Policy Levers Available Through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act

This brief outlines the menu of policy options Governors have available to them when assessing how to optimize their public workforce system so that it responds to their state or ...

Economic Policy Library

NGA 2022 Summer Meeting

NGA 2022 Summer Meeting

The National Governors Association's 2022 Annual Summer Meeting was held was July 13-15, 2022, in Portland, Maine. Governors met to collaborate on bipartisan solutions to leading policy issues including computer ...
Letter on FY2023 Appropriations – Economic Recovery and Revitalization Task Force

Letter on FY2023 Appropriations – Economic Recovery and Revitalization Task Force

Congress has been an instrumental partner for states and territories in funding efforts to help support infrastructure, economic development, and environmental programs. Therefore, as you look toward Fiscal Year 2023’s ...
Letter on FY2023 Appropriations - Economic Recovery and Revitalization Task Force

Letter on FY2023 Appropriations – Economic Recovery and Revitalization Task Force

Congress has been an instrumental partner for states and territories in funding efforts to help support infrastructure, economic development, and environmental programs. Therefore, as you look toward Fiscal Year 2023’s ...
Learning from State Regulatory Streamlining Efforts

Learning from State Regulatory Streamlining Efforts

A growing number of states are making significant headway towards creating better regulatory management systems and leaner regulations. This will undoubtedly save on administrative costs, eliminate redundancies and provide lessons ...
One-Stop Portals Help Businesses Navigate State Regulations

One-Stop Portals Help Businesses Navigate State Regulations

One-stop portals and online hubs that provide a single point of entry for business transactions with state government are an effective way to help new and small businesses. (Download) Executive ...
Briefing on Post Enumeration Census Results

Briefing on Post Enumeration Census Results

On Thursday, May 26, NGA hosted a briefing for Governors’ offices with the U.S. Census Bureau to review the Post-Enumeration Survey (PES), which measures the accuracy of the census by ...
Governors Commend Bipartisan $10 Billion COVID Relief Agreement, Urge Passage

Governors Commend Bipartisan $10 Billion COVID Relief Agreement, Urge Passage

Governors urge Congress to pass a bipartisan package that will give states the tools and flexibility they need to continue to fight COVID-19 and support economic recovery. WASHINGTON – Today, ...
Governors Urge Congress to Find Agreement on Innovation and Competition Legislation

Governors Urge Congress to Find Agreement on Innovation and Competition Legislation

Today, National Governors Association Chairman Governor Asa Hutchinson of Arkansas and Vice Chairman Governor Phil Murphy of New Jersey released the following statement as the House and Senate continue deliberations ...
Safeguarding Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds

Safeguarding Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds

We urge lawmakers to negotiate in good faith to advance FY 2022 spending legislation, while preserving the critical support provided through the CSLFRF. The Honorable Nancy PelosiSpeakerUnited States House of ...