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

Workforce Strategic Planning Collaborative

Workforce Strategic Planning Collaborative

Today’s tight labor market, coupled with historic federal investments through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), CHIPS and Science Act, and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), make the 2024 Workforce ...
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Preparing the Next Generation of the Healthcare Workforce: State Strategies for Recruitment and Retention

Preparing the Next Generation of the Healthcare Workforce: State Strategies for Recruitment and Retention

Through their work together, states have learned ways to strengthen their healthcare career pathways, strategies to attract and retain workers, and methods to coordinate these efforts effectively. (Download) Governors have ...
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6 States Selected to Participate in NGA Youth Apprenticeship Policy Academy

6 States Selected to Participate in NGA Youth Apprenticeship Policy Academy

National Governors Association to Work with Alabama, Colorado, Indiana, Kansas, North Carolina, and Utah to help them develop and implement policy agendas that advance high-quality youth apprenticeship opportunities. Additional states ...
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Expanding the Broadband Workforce: How Three States are Preparing for Equitable Broadband Deployment 

Expanding the Broadband Workforce: How Three States are Preparing for Equitable Broadband Deployment 

The federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) is providing states with unprecedented amounts of funding to deploy broadband infrastructure, improve affordability and ensure meaningful adoption in communities. Governors are ...
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Innovative Workforce Development Programs for the Travel, Tourism and Outdoor Recreation Sectors

Innovative Workforce Development Programs for the Travel, Tourism and Outdoor Recreation Sectors

The National Governors Association Center for Best Practices held a webinar on Thursday, June 22, 1:00-2:00 EST for members of our Economic Development and Outdoor Recreation Networks to learn about ...
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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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Economic Policy Library

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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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, ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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FAFSA Completion Action Lab

FAFSA Completion Action Lab

This Action Lab focuses on strategies for increasing completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to expand access to postsecondary education. It includes an overview of several ...
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