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.

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

  • 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

Service-To-Career Pathways

Service-To-Career Pathways

Governors across the country are navigating rapidly evolving labor force trends – worker shortages in nearly every sector of the economy, skills gaps created by new technologies, and increased cost ...
Read More
Disability Inclusive Workforce Policy Learning Collaborative

Disability Inclusive Workforce Policy Learning Collaborative

As Governors work to confront an extremely tight labor market, efforts to reduce barriers to workforce participation are increasingly critical for developing a skilled workforce and filling in-demand jobs. This ...
Read More
Six States Selected to Participate in NGA Disability Inclusive Workforce Policy Learning Collaborative  

Six States Selected to Participate in NGA Disability Inclusive Workforce Policy Learning Collaborative  

WASHINGTON – Maryland, Minnesota, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, and Vermont have been selected to participate in the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) Disability Inclusive Workforce Policy ...
Read More
A Best Practices Dozen – Publications 2023

A Best Practices Dozen – Publications 2023

As we welcome a new year, it is natural to reflect on the year that has passed. In the realm of information dissemination, this act of reflection takes on particular ...
Read More
Leveraging the 2024–2027 Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Planning Period to Capitalize on Investment Passed in the 117th Congress: Opportunities for Governors and State Workforce Development Boards

Leveraging the 2024–2027 Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Planning Period to Capitalize on Investment Passed in the 117th Congress: Opportunities for Governors and State Workforce Development Boards

The purpose of this publication is to provide Governors and state workforce development boards with a menu of actionable steps they can take to play a proactive role in implementing ...
Read More
Governors Encouraged by CHIPS Selection, Call for Acceleration of Awards to Advance American Competitiveness

Governors Encouraged by CHIPS Selection, Call for Acceleration of Awards to Advance American Competitiveness

WASHINGTON – Today, National Governors Association Chair Governor Spencer Cox of Utah and Vice Chair Governor Jared Polis of Colorado released the following statement following the U.S. Department of Commerce’s selection ...
Read More
State and Territory WIOA Title I Allocations Since 2014

State and Territory WIOA Title I Allocations Since 2014

The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) authorizes federal funding for state and local workforce development activities. Through WIOA Title I, states and territories receive formula funds on an annual ...
Read More
State Longitudinal Data Ecosystem

State Longitudinal Data Ecosystem

The National Governors Association in partnership with the Data Quality Campaign is working with states in a new learning ecosystem to help Governors’ offices and other state officials better understand ...
Read More
Building Systems for Success: Key Considerations for Youth Apprenticeship System Design

Building Systems for Success: Key Considerations for Youth Apprenticeship System Design

In most states, youth apprenticeship systems are relatively new and are still evolving in response to the needs of students, employers, and partners. (Download) The National Governors Association Center for ...
Read More

Economic Policy Library

6 States Awarded Grant Funding to Boost Workforce Participation, Economic Mobility

6 States Awarded Grant Funding to Boost Workforce Participation, Economic Mobility

Arkansas, Colorado, Indiana, North Dakota, Virginia and Washington to develop programs to promote skills-based training and hiring WASHINGTON D.C. – Arkansas, Colorado, Indiana, North Dakota, Virginia and Washington will receive ...
Read More
States Convening to Discuss Improving Economic Mobility

States Convening to Discuss Improving Economic Mobility

From coast to coast, Governors are committed to improving economic mobility outcomes for families in their states and are investing in innovative programs—including in fields traditionally underutilized for economic security—and ...
Read More
Congress Passes Short-Term Funding, Governors Call for Full-Year Appropriations

Congress Passes Short-Term Funding, Governors Call for Full-Year Appropriations

Today, National Governors Association Chair Governor Phil Murphy of New Jersey and Vice Chair Governor Spencer Cox of Utah released the following statement after the Senate and House passed a ...
Read More
What Inflation Means for States and Territories: A Two-Part Briefing Series

What Inflation Means for States and Territories: A Two-Part Briefing Series

With inflation grabbing headlines and putting a financial squeeze on many households in recent months, the National Governors Association hosted a two-part briefing series for Governors’ staff and state and ...
Read More
Advancing Economic Mobility for Low-Income Families: Policy Options for Governors

Advancing Economic Mobility for Low-Income Families: Policy Options for Governors

As we look to post-pandemic recovery, it will be critical to ensure that individuals have access to resources and supports that not only help them meet basic needs but also ...
Read More
Letter Urges Congress to provide a one-year extension of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program

Letter Urges Congress to provide a one-year extension of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program

The Honorable Ron Wyden ChairmanSenate Committee on Finance 219 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 The Honorable Richard E. NealChairmanHouse Committee on Ways and Means 2309 Cannon Building Washington, ...
Read More
The CHIPS and Science Act of 2022

The CHIPS and Science Act of 2022

The CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 (P.L. 117-167), a bipartisan law, focuses on federal aid to encourage the construction of microprocessor manufacturing facilities in the United States. The objective ...
Read More
State Business Regulations

State Business Regulations

The National Governors Association Center for Best Practices partnered with The Pew Charitable Trusts to support states in exploring ways to improve business regulatory processes to promote economic development by ...
Read More
Governors Applaud Passage of Bipartisan Competition Legislation

Governors Applaud Passage of Bipartisan Competition Legislation

Today, National Governors Association Chair Governor Phil Murphy of New Jersey and Vice Chair Governor Spencer Cox of Utah released the following statement after the Senate and House passed the ...
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.