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, Senior Policy Analyst
  • Sophia Yager, Senior Policy Analyst
  • Eric Aboodi, Policy Analyst
  • Malena Dailey, 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

Governors Prioritizing Postsecondary Strategies: Multiple Pathways Highlighted in 2025 State and Territory Addresses

Governors Prioritizing Postsecondary Strategies: Multiple Pathways Highlighted in 2025 State and Territory Addresses

Governors across the country made clear that postsecondary education remains central to their policy agendas in their 2025 State and Territory addresses—including State of the State, Inaugural, and Budget speeches ...
Read More
State and Territorial Workforce Development Successes

State and Territorial Workforce Development Successes

State and territory workforce development programs are crucial for addressing local labor market needs by providing training and education that align with current industry demands. These programs also support economic ...
Read More
Driving Public Sector Innovation Through Skills-Based Hiring

Driving Public Sector Innovation Through Skills-Based Hiring

State governments across the nation are leading a transformation in talent management, shifting toward a more skills-focused approach, which prioritizes a candidate’s skills, competencies, and relevant work experience over traditional ...
Read More
Governors Reshaping Workforce Development: Turning WIOA Challenges into Workforce Solutions

Governors Reshaping Workforce Development: Turning WIOA Challenges into Workforce Solutions

Across the country, Governors are finding new ways to strengthen their workforce systems. From reorganizing state agencies to improving industry engagement and providing essential support services, states are taking bold ...
Read More
2025 Winter Workforce Development Policy Institute

2025 Winter Workforce Development Policy Institute

The first session on the first day of the 2025 Winter Workforce Development Policy Institute, held March 12–14 in Washington, D.C., presented a perfect encapsulation of why workforce development remains ...
Read More
Governors Discuss Workforce Innovation

Governors Discuss Workforce Innovation

WASHINGTON – During the National Governors Association (NGA) Winter Meeting, members of the Education, Workforce, and Community Investment Task Force convened to discuss apprenticeships and non-degree pathways as essential tools ...
Read More
Six States Selected for NGA Center Service-to-Career Pathways Policy Academy

Six States Selected for NGA Center Service-to-Career Pathways Policy Academy

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore to co-chair Advisory Board WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) has launched a Service-to-Career ...
Read More
New Report: Growing Number of States Drop Degree Requirements

New Report: Growing Number of States Drop Degree Requirements

National Governors Association study examines state impacts of skills-based practices WASHINGTON, D.C. – Skills-based job postings rapidly increase when states drop degree requirements for public sector jobs, according to a ...
Read More
Empowering Progress: Harnessing Skills-Based Strategies to Drive Public Sector Excellence

Empowering Progress: Harnessing Skills-Based Strategies to Drive Public Sector Excellence

The public sector plays a key role in advancing skills-based strategies, driven by gubernatorial leadership. Whether in the early stages or more advanced in their adoption of skills-based policies and ...
Read More

Economic Policy Library

Service as a Pathway to Economic Opportunity: A Roadmap for Governors

Service as a Pathway to Economic Opportunity: A Roadmap for Governors

This roadmap lays out five key elements with related policy options for Governors to consider as they develop and execute a vision for service-to-career pathways in their states (Download) Background ...
Read More
Governors Share Federal Funding Concerns to House Speaker

Governors Share Federal Funding Concerns to House Speaker

NGA Chair Utah Governor Spencer Cox and Vice Chair Colorado Governor Jared Polis wrote a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson urging the House and Senate to work together to ...
Read More
Housing

Housing

Housing is a basic necessity. Yet shortages and skyrocketing costs are putting it out of reach for more and more Americans. Driven by high interest rates and low supply, home ...
Read More
Governors’ Responses to Challenges in Housing Availability and Affordability

Governors’ Responses to Challenges in Housing Availability and Affordability

Every state is impacted by the national housing shortage. Housing prices have soared. Inflation has driven interest rates higher, increasing monthly mortgage costs and almost doubling the household income needed ...
Read More
Governors Leading on Supply Chain Resiliency

Governors Leading on Supply Chain Resiliency

The COVID-19 pandemic emphasized the importance of the United States industrial base, supply chains, and job training for the manufacturing workforce. Supply chain issues came to the fore with shortages ...
Read More
State, Territory, and Local Governments Urge Congress to Preserve Roadway Authority in AV Legislation

State, Territory, and Local Governments Urge Congress to Preserve Roadway Authority in AV Legislation

On behalf of the nation’s Governors, legislators, mayors, cities, counties, state transportation officials, state motor vehicle administrators, and highway safety officials, we urge Congress to ensure that any legislation being ...
Read More
State Approaches to Enhancing Supply Chain Resiliency

State Approaches to Enhancing Supply Chain Resiliency

This paper focuses on supply chain issues in advanced manufacturing and related sectors including infrastructure and transportation, renewable and alternative energy, and battery applications. (Download) Executive Summary The COVID-19 pandemic ...
Read More
Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (AI) in State Government

Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (AI) in State Government

On September 6, 2023, the NGA Center for Best Practices hosted a virtual event, “Introduction to Artificial Intelligence in State Government,” co-organized with the Center for Scientific Evidence in Public ...
Read More
Governors Call on Congress to Keep Government Open

Governors Call on Congress to Keep Government Open

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 ...
Read More
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognizing you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. Please see our privacy policy for more information.