Data and Degrees: Connecting Education to Workforce Development


As states work to align educational opportunities with evolving workforce needs, access to reliable data can help inform decision-making and long-term planning. In this webinar, participants learn about the Virginia Office of Education Economics, an entity established through 2021 legislation to strengthen connections between education, workforce development and economic data.

The discussion explores how the office was created, its role in supporting data-informed analysis and decision-making, and how its work helps identify trends related to educational attainment, workforce demand and economic opportunity. Speakers also share insights on developing cross-sector partnerships, building data infrastructure and using workforce information to support educational programming and workforce investments.

The session examines lessons learned from Virginia’s experience and highlights considerations for policymakers interested in exploring data-driven approaches to connecting education and workforce development within their own states.

Presented as part of CSG South’s webinar series, this discussion provides state legislators, legislative staff and other public-sector leaders with information and practical examples related to education and workforce policy planning.

Watch the full webinar recording below to learn more.

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Leading Through Change: Building Resilience, Trust, and Impact

Leading organizational change requires more than implementing new processes. It also requires leaders to communicate clearly, build trust and help teams navigate uncertainty with confidence. During this SAIL webinar, leadership strategist Dwayne Whitehead explored practical approaches for guiding teams through periods of transition.

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Executive Communication & Advising Leadership: When to Speak, When to Pause, and How to Guide Executives

This recorded webinar examines how government staff can strengthen communication with executive leadership by identifying when to speak, when to pause, and how to provide guidance that supports effective decision-making. The discussion focuses on practical strategies for building credibility as a trusted advisor while navigating high-pressure environments and complex organizational dynamics.

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Communicating With the Public in a Polarized Environment

Public polarization has continued to shape how individuals interact with government offices, increasing the complexity of communication for public-facing staff. During this SAIL-hosted webinar discussion, Katie Gilfeather, a licensed clinical social worker and training consultant in organizational excellence, conflict resolution, and mediation, examined how these dynamics affect day-to-day interactions and outlined practical approaches to managing them.

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Policy at the Pace of Innovation: AI in Southern State Healthcare Systems

Artificial intelligence is advancing rapidly across healthcare systems, prompting state policymakers to examine how these technologies may influence clinical care, insurance processes and regulatory oversight. As AI tools expand in scope and capability, legislatures and state agencies are evaluating how to approach governance, implementation and oversight.

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Insights to Information

Insights to Information transforms the policy questions submitted by state officials and staff into accessible resources for all members. Each month, we select the most relevant or widely requested topics and republish them as downloadable PDFs, offering a glimpse into the conversations and challenges your colleagues are exploring. Stay informed, discover emerging trends, and see how peers across the region are addressing key policy issues.


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Checking Up On the Budgetary and Fiscal Health of the States

States are navigating a period of shifting fiscal conditions as revenue growth moderates, federal policy changes take effect, and long-term cost pressures persist. In this policy webinar, CSG South examined the fiscal landscape facing states and the factors shaping budget decisions during the 2026 legislative session.

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Defending State Systems Against Emerging Cyber Threats

State agencies face a growing volume of sophisticated cyber threats that can disrupt operations and compromise sensitive data. To examine these issues, CSG South convened a panel discussion that explored how cyber threats to state government are evolving, which systems are most at risk, and what trends officials should monitor as adversaries refine their tactics.

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