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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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 ...
NGA Center Launches Policy Academy to Advance Youth Apprenticeship

NGA Center Launches Policy Academy to Advance Youth Apprenticeship

In partnership with New America, the NGA Center will deliver technical assistance to the six states that were competitively selected to participate in the Policy Academy as they develop and ...

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

A Look at America’s Return to Work

A Look at America’s Return to Work

A look at the Community Renewal Task Force discussion on getting people back to work, reducing disparities in the workforce, and leveraging federal investments to maximize opportunities to upskill workers ...
Governors’ Leadership Remains Key to Advancing Apprenticeship in America

Governors’ Leadership Remains Key to Advancing Apprenticeship in America

Targeted investment and state leadership have driven the expansion of registered apprenticeship into new sectors in addition to scaling the model in sectors where it was more traditionally used. By ...
Governors Convene in Person for 114th National Governors Association Winter Meeting

Governors Convene in Person for 114th National Governors Association Winter Meeting

NGA Chairman Gov. Hutchinson Unveils Compact to Expand K-12 Computer Science Education During the four-day meeting, Governors held policy discussions on topics including infrastructure investments, strategies to continue to facilitate ...
NGA 2022 Winter Meeting

NGA 2022 Winter Meeting

The National Governors Association's 114th annual Winter Meeting was January 28-31, 2022 in Washington, D.C. Governors met to discuss best practices and bipartisan collaboration on leading policy issues including infrastructure, ...
Lessons Learned in Workforce Innovation: How Ten Governors are Redesigning Workforce Systems for Better Employment Outcomes

Lessons Learned in Workforce Innovation: How Ten Governors are Redesigning Workforce Systems for Better Employment Outcomes

Throughout 2021, NGA Workforce Innovation Network grantees carried out unique initiatives to identify and close gaps in jobseeker service delivery in alignment with its Governor’s workforce and economic recovery goals ...
State of the States 2022

State of the States 2022

Governors of states, territories and commonwealths are outlining their priorities for 2022 in state of the state or commonwealth addresses, as well as inaugural addresses for new and re-elected Governors ...
Strengthening Work-Based Learning Programs

Strengthening Work-Based Learning Programs

COVID has hit our workforce and economy hard. As governors, we offer this strategy for growth in 2022. by Governor Laura Kelly and Governor Spencer Cox All around us, there ...
Diversifying Partnerships for Success in Work-Based Learning

Diversifying Partnerships for Success in Work-Based Learning

Governors have the unique ability to convene and support diverse partnerships in WBL. Their WBL strategy should consider the full breadth of potential partnerships and how those partnerships can help ...
Ability to Benefit Action Lab

Ability to Benefit Action Lab

Ability to Benefit can help students without a high school diploma or equivalency qualify for federal financial aid for postsecondary career pathways programs. This virtual action lab, held in partnership ...

Economic Policy Library

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National Governors Association Leadership Calls on Congress to Prioritize State and Local Aid

‘This Is a National Problem, and It Demands a Bipartisan and National Solution’ WASHINGTON – New York Governor and National Governors Association Chairman Andrew Cuomo and Arkansas Governor and NGA ...
Policy Making During a Pandemic: Navigating the New Normal and What Lies Ahead Roundtables

Policy Making During a Pandemic: Navigating the New Normal and What Lies Ahead Roundtables

Throughout the month of October, NGA will be hosting four policy roundtables for state policymakers and NGA experts to discuss today's most pressing policy priorities. We will convene to discuss ...
Letter Regarding the Coronavirus Relief Fund

Letter Regarding the Coronavirus Relief Fund

NGA and other state and local organizations sent a letter to the Department of the Treasury’s Office of the Inspector Generalexpressing concern that recent changes to the regulatory and oversight ...
NGA OUTDOOR RECREATION LEARNING NETWORK

NGA OUTDOOR RECREATION LEARNING NETWORK

Helping governors and their outdoor recreation staff explore strategies to leverage their unique natural, cultural and historical resources to improve access to and help promote economic, social and environmental benefits ...
Guidance on Reopening Businesses

Guidance on Reopening Businesses

As stay-at-home orders are being lifted and as pressure mounts to reopen businesses, states should consider the types of regulations they will enforce and guidance they will provide to businesses ...
Congress’ Failure to Reach Agreement on Aid to State and Local Governments Leaves Them in an Untenable Position

Congress’ Failure to Reach Agreement on Aid to State and Local Governments Leaves Them in an Untenable Position

The failure of Congress to reach a compromise on a new coronavirus relief package imperils the ability of state and local government to maintain sound operations and critical services for ...
National Governors Association Leaders Call on Congress to Come Together on Coronavirus Relief

National Governors Association Leaders Call on Congress to Come Together on Coronavirus Relief

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, the chair of the National Governors Association (NGA), and Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, the NGA vice chair, reacted to Congress’ failure to reach a compromise ...
NGA 2020 Summer Meeting

NGA 2020 Summer Meeting

Videos from the 2020 Virtual Summer Meeting with remarks from outgoing NGA Chair, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan and incoming NGA Chair, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. Also featuring three questions ...

Recent Treasury Report Fails to Account for Allocated Coronavirus Relief Funds as the Country Faces Historic Drop in GDP and Record Unemployment

The seven bipartisan organizations representing state and local governments today responded to a recent report by the Department of Treasury about state expenditures from the Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) approved ...