State policymakers are restructuring education and workforce governance with a clear focus on strengthening labor pipelines, as workforce development becomes a top priority for higher education leaders. Reporting on current state initiatives described Workforce Pell Grants launching July 1 as a catalyst for changes in how states connect high school to higher education to high-demand careers. The approach includes merging state workforce and education agencies so program approvals, funding, and development better reflect employer demand. Examples highlighted include Colorado proposals to combine higher education, labor, and workforce functions into a single department; Missouri’s Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development model created in 2019 (including MoExcels investment of $54 million in 2025); and Virginia’s department overseeing more than 1,500 workforce programs. A recurring driver is improved data on how students move from education into employment and which programs produce outcomes.