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.

Featured Initiatives 

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


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

Governors Recognize 10th Annual National Apprenticeship Week

Governors Recognize 10th Annual National Apprenticeship Week

Washington D.C. — Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers and Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon, Co-Chairs of the National Governors Association (NGA) Education, Workforce and Community Investment Task Force, released the following statement ...
Education for Life – A Conversation with Dr. Steven Levitt

Education for Life – A Conversation with Dr. Steven Levitt

Measuring outcomes is one of the primary goals of NGA Chair Colorado Governor Jared Polis’ “Let’s Get Ready: Educating All Americans for Success” initiative. How are we measuring outcomes to ...
Service-to-Career Pathways Policy Academy and Community of Practice

Service-to-Career Pathways Policy Academy and Community of Practice

In partnership with the Schultz Family Foundation and the Annie E. Casey Foundation, the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) is launching a Policy Academy to support ...
How Colorado is Transforming its Workforce through Skills-Based Practices

How Colorado is Transforming its Workforce through Skills-Based Practices

Colorado is at the forefront of a movement to transform state workforces. (View/Download) Since 2019, the State of Colorado has been experimenting with skills-based practices as a means to build ...
Aligning the Workforce System and Economic Growth: Best Practices from State WIOA Planning

Aligning the Workforce System and Economic Growth: Best Practices from State WIOA Planning

This publication highlights elements of Governors’ 2024-2027 WIOA State Plans that meet USDOL goals, as well as those that integrate IIJA, CHIPS, and IRA funding and programs into the activities ...
NGA Holds Biannual Workforce Development Policy Institute in Mystic, Connecticut

NGA Holds Biannual Workforce Development Policy Institute in Mystic, Connecticut

With Governors focused on aligning workforce and economic development activities across states, NGA’s biannual Workforce Development Policy Institute brought together state leaders, including Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont, to discuss how ...
Workforce Strategies for New Industrial Policies: Governors’ Emerging Solutions

Workforce Strategies for New Industrial Policies: Governors’ Emerging Solutions

This brief is part of a larger research effort that dissects Governors’ workforce development leadership in their states. In this report, NGA highlights how Governors are leveraging new industrial policy ...
Actualizing the Promise of Youth Apprenticeship: Lessons Learned from NGA’s Policy Academy to Advance Youth Apprenticeship

Actualizing the Promise of Youth Apprenticeship: Lessons Learned from NGA’s Policy Academy to Advance Youth Apprenticeship

This publication highlights key themes from the Policy Academy, recounts Governor-led policy change on youth apprenticeship, and covers what the future of youth apprenticeship policy may hold at the state ...
Governors Working on Workforce Development

Governors Working on Workforce Development

The NGA Center for Best Practices will host the 2024 Fall Workforce Development Policy Institute in Mystic, Connecticut at the end of October. The Institute brings together Governors’ Workforce Development ...

Economic Policy Library

North Dakota – Innovative Travel, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation Case Study

North Dakota – Innovative Travel, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation Case Study

The below case study was developed through a NGA partnership with Oregon State University’s Center for the Outdoor Recreation Economy to research and assess the Travel, Tourism and Outdoor Recreation ...
Hawai‘i – Innovative Travel, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation Case Study

Hawai‘i – Innovative Travel, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation Case Study

The below case study was developed through a NGA partnership with Oregon State University’s Center for the Outdoor Recreation Economy to research and assess the Travel, Tourism and Outdoor Recreation ...
West Virginia – Innovative Travel, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation Case Study

West Virginia – Innovative Travel, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation Case Study

The below case study was developed through a NGA partnership with Oregon State University’s Center for the Outdoor Recreation Economy to research and assess the Travel, Tourism and Outdoor Recreation ...
Colorado – Innovative Travel, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation Case Study

Colorado – Innovative Travel, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation Case Study

The below case study was developed through a NGA partnership with Oregon State University’s Center for the Outdoor Recreation Economy to research and assess the Travel, Tourism and Outdoor Recreation ...
Indiana – Innovative Travel, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation Case Study

Indiana – Innovative Travel, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation Case Study

The below case study was developed through a NGA partnership with Oregon State University’s Center for the Outdoor Recreation Economy to research and assess the Travel, Tourism and Outdoor Recreation ...
Innovative Travel, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation Awards

Innovative Travel, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation Awards

This report is about the travel, tourism and outdoor recreation (TTOR) grants made by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) based on the American Rescue Plan Act ...
Navigating the GenAI Frontier: Strategies for Governors’ Offices

Navigating the GenAI Frontier: Strategies for Governors’ Offices

Governors are working to maximize the benefits and mitigate the risks of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and NGA is assisting in identify both. Over the past year we have held a ...
Federal Agency Representatives Join 2024 NGA Summer Meeting

Federal Agency Representatives Join 2024 NGA Summer Meeting

At the 2024 NGA Summer Meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah, representatives from multiple federal agencies held meetings with Governors’ staff members to focus on coordination between state and federal ...
New State Models Emerging for Fostering Entrepreneurship

New State Models Emerging for Fostering Entrepreneurship

Almost all net job growth is generated by businesses started less than five years ago, according to the National Bureau of Economic Research. Governors recognize the importance of new businesses ...