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

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, ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
Workforce Development Technical Assistance Program

Workforce Development Technical Assistance Program

Through this program NGA provides state workforce system leaders with best practice research, strategic planning and meeting facilitation, access to federal partners and subject matter experts, and other support on ...
Using Data to Advance Digital Skills: A State Playbook

Using Data to Advance Digital Skills: A State Playbook

To assist states in closing digital skill gaps and preparing for digital equity planning, this brief offers key questions and resources for state leaders to consider. This brief is a ...
Help Wanted: Building a Pipeline to Address the Children’s Mental Health Provider Workforce Shortage

Help Wanted: Building a Pipeline to Address the Children’s Mental Health Provider Workforce Shortage

There is no silver bullet for the mental health crisis but reducing workforce shortages of these critical providers can go a long way to solving the problem. by Jessica Kirchner ...
The Key Role of Community Colleges in Scaling Apprenticeship Programs Statewide

The Key Role of Community Colleges in Scaling Apprenticeship Programs Statewide

This webinar highlights outcomes of the ECCA initiative and the key role that community colleges play, in partnership with Governors, to scale apprenticeship programs statewide. Community colleges are essential partners ...
Leveraging Registered Apprenticeship to Build a Thriving and Inclusive Economy

Leveraging Registered Apprenticeship to Build a Thriving and Inclusive Economy

Ensuring that every resident can get into well-paying, stable careers through accessible, affordable education and training is a top priority for the nation’s Governors, as is creating an economic climate ...

Economic Policy Library

State Roadmap for Workforce Recovery

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

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 ...
Outdoor Recreation Learning Network - Annual Meeting 2021

Outdoor Recreation Learning Network – Annual Meeting 2021

The annual meeting will discuss how states can advance outdoor recreation issues including economic recovery from COVID-19, developing partnerships to leverage limited public dollars, accessing federal economic development grants, promoting ...
State Initiatives for Small Business Recovery During the COVID-19 Pandemic Economic Crisis

State Initiatives for Small Business Recovery During the COVID-19 Pandemic Economic Crisis

This memo summarizes a variety of types of state small business initiatives launched or expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic and economic crisis. (View/Download) Key Takeaways The state small business initiatives ...
Letter on Unemployment Insurance and Economic Recovery

Letter on Unemployment Insurance and Economic Recovery

We call on Congress to take action before the end of 2020 to ensure that state and territorial unemployment programs will continue to meet the needs of the millions of ...
Putting CARES Act Funds To Work: Getting Main Street Back on its Feet

Putting CARES Act Funds To Work: Getting Main Street Back on its Feet

“As the state has rolled out over $1 billion of the CARES Act monies to the individuals and businesses affected by COVID-19, it became evident the group most overwhelmingly hurt ...
Putting CARES Act Funds To Work: Prioritizing Testing and PPE to Protect Americans

Putting CARES Act Funds To Work: Prioritizing Testing and PPE to Protect Americans

Federal support is needed to ensure that states and territories have the necessary PPE and testing resources to protect our health care workers, all Americans, and continue to safely open ...
Putting CARES Act Funds to Work: Investing in Education, Investing in Recovery

Putting CARES Act Funds to Work: Investing in Education, Investing in Recovery

Federal support is needed to ensure school safety, as well as protect public health, stimulate the economy, coordinate and support vaccine distribution, and help prevent tax increases. Our recovery is ...
Coronavirus Relief Fund Eligibility Items

Coronavirus Relief Fund Eligibility Items

States and local governments are spending money from the CARES Act quickly and wisely. This list illustrates the level of complexity and increasing number of eligible items that states, territories ...