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

States Bolster Transportation Workforce through Apprenticeship Programs

States Bolster Transportation Workforce through Apprenticeship Programs

The National Governors Association (NGA) Center for Best Practices is working with four states – Connecticut, Idaho, Oregon and North Carolina – to utilize IIJA funds to scale pre-apprenticeship and ...
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Computer Science Education and The Workforce

Computer Science Education and The Workforce

Governors, First Spouses, industry partners and national experts met in Boston, Massachusetts, to discuss K-12 computer science education, the focus of the NGA Chairman’s Initiative. By Catherine Van Ness Photo: ...
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Making the Business Case for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Making the Business Case for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

At the 2022 NGA Winter Workforce Symposium, State workforce development leaders engaged with business leaders and subject matter experts on the benefits of advancing equitable employment for underserved and marginalized ...
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Empowering Returning Citizens to Connect to Higher Education and Employment Opportunities

Empowering Returning Citizens to Connect to Higher Education and Employment Opportunities

The 2022 NGA Winter Workforce Symposium Highlight featured a session on empowering people leaving prison in the workforce through connecting them to higher education and employment opportunities. by Rachel Hirsch ...
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States Collaborate to Combat Health Worker Shortage

States Collaborate to Combat Health Worker Shortage

14 states join National Governors Association (NGA) program focused on strategies to grow and retain the next generation of the health care workforce. WASHINGTON – California, Colorado, Missouri and Wyoming are ...
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Addressing the Dearth of Digital Skills Data: Opportunities for States

Addressing the Dearth of Digital Skills Data: Opportunities for States

Governors are working to address the digital skill divide and upskill local workforces for the future. by Katherine Ash States across the nation are advancing digital equity by forming coalitions, ...
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State Workforce System Leaders Highlight Shared Challenges and Opportunities for Partnership at Bi-Annual Workforce Symposium

State Workforce System Leaders Highlight Shared Challenges and Opportunities for Partnership at Bi-Annual Workforce Symposium

State workforce development boards and agencies play a crucial role in driving innovation and best practices that lead to better educational and employment outcomes for their constituents. by Rachael Stephens ...
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National Association of State Workforce Board Chairs

National Association of State Workforce Board Chairs

The Association provides a vehicle for state workforce board chairs and staff directors to learn from the experiences of others in similar positions, share best practices and solutions to shared ...
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National Association of State Liaisons for Workforce Development Partnerships

National Association of State Liaisons for Workforce Development Partnerships

The Association offers an orderly and effective means for state representatives to collectively speak on issues of concern related to workforce and economic development, with a connection to and platform ...
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Economic Policy Library

Streamlining State Business Regulatory Processes to Support Economic Recovery

Streamlining State Business Regulatory Processes to Support Economic Recovery

This paper explores high-profile state-level changes to regulatory compliance and administrative processes from the past year, and addresses ways to assess their value and the benefit of continuing them with ...
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State of the States - 2021

State of the States – 2021

Governors of states, territories and commonwealths are outlining their priorities for 2021 in state of the state or commonwealth addresses, as well as inaugural addresses for new and re-elected Governors ...
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Economic Development

Businesses – and the people who start them and work for them – create jobs and compete in the global marketplace. Accordingly, a state’s success depends largely on the smart ...
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NGA and NASWA Letter to Secretary of Labor Regarding Unemployment Insurance Fraud

NGA and NASWA Letter to Secretary of Labor Regarding Unemployment Insurance Fraud

The Honorable Marty WalshU.S. Secretary of LaborU.S. Department of Labor200 Constitution Avenue NWWashington, D.C. 20210 Dear Secretary Walsh: Congratulations on your nomination and confirmation as U.S. Secretary of Labor. Governors ...
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Governors Hogan and Whitmer Testify on Importance of Infrastructure Investment

Governors Hogan and Whitmer Testify on Importance of Infrastructure Investment

Governors struck a resoundingly bipartisan tone before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, speaking to the urgency of investing now and for the future as our infrastructure must rapidly ...
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Promoting Outdoor Recreation Through Health Policy

Promoting Outdoor Recreation Through Health Policy

Park Rx programs are being adopted by a small group of physicians all over the country who are prescribing the outdoors along with other medicines to help patients relieve stress, ...
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Governors Propose Infrastructure Investments to Support Long Term Economic Recovery

Governors Propose Infrastructure Investments to Support Long Term Economic Recovery

As the nation’s economy looks to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, states are positioned to maximize the benefits from infrastructure investments. by Thomas Curtin, Program Director, Infrastructure As the nation ...
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The Road Ahead: A Summary of State Economic Recovery Agendas

The Road Ahead: A Summary of State Economic Recovery Agendas

The COVID-19 pandemic and resulting economic crisis have posed exceptional challenges for states. This brief summarizes the proactive economic recovery efforts a number of states are undertaking. They illustrate various ...
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National Governors Association Chair Andrew M. Cuomo and Vice Chair Asa Hutchinson Statement on Meeting With President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris

National Governors Association Chair Andrew M. Cuomo and Vice Chair Asa Hutchinson Statement on Meeting With President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris

New York Governor and National Governors Association Chairman Andrew M. Cuomo and Arkansas Governor and NGA Vice Chairman Asa Hutchinson issued the following statement after meeting with President Biden and ...
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