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


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 Discuss Workforce Innovation

Governors Discuss Workforce Innovation

WASHINGTON – During the National Governors Association (NGA) Winter Meeting, members of the Education, Workforce, and Community Investment Task Force convened to discuss apprenticeships and non-degree pathways as essential tools ...
Six States Selected for NGA Center Service-to-Career Pathways Policy Academy

Six States Selected for NGA Center Service-to-Career Pathways Policy Academy

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore to co-chair Advisory Board WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) has launched a Service-to-Career ...
New Report: Growing Number of States Drop Degree Requirements

New Report: Growing Number of States Drop Degree Requirements

National Governors Association study examines state impacts of skills-based practices WASHINGTON, D.C. – Skills-based job postings rapidly increase when states drop degree requirements for public sector jobs, according to a ...
Empowering Progress: Harnessing Skills-Based Strategies to Drive Public Sector Excellence

Empowering Progress: Harnessing Skills-Based Strategies to Drive Public Sector Excellence

The public sector plays a key role in advancing skills-based strategies, driven by gubernatorial leadership. Whether in the early stages or more advanced in their adoption of skills-based policies and ...
Hard at Work(force) Development

Hard at Work(force) Development

The NGA Center’s Workforce Development team had a busy fall with new publications on Actualizing the Promise of Youth Apprenticeship, Workforce Strategies for New Industrial Policies, and Aligning the Workforce ...
NGA Holds Governors Apprenticeship Innovation Summit

NGA Holds Governors Apprenticeship Innovation Summit

The National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center), in partnership with Cognizant, recently convened public and private sector leaders to showcase Governors’ leadership advancing apprenticeship. Held in Phoenix, ...
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 ...

Economic Policy Library

Governors Applaud Passage of Bipartisan Water Resources and Economic Development Legislation

Governors Applaud Passage of Bipartisan Water Resources and Economic Development Legislation

WASHINGTON – Today, the National Governors Association’s (NGA) Economic Development and Revitalization Task Force Co-Chairs, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear and South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, released the following statement after ...
Maine – Innovative Travel, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation Case Study

Maine – 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 ...
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 ...