2020 Governor's State of the State speeches: on Jobs

Gavin Newsom: Californians are VIPs of GDP: 1 in 7 new jobs since 2010

Just consider this fact: 1 in 7 new jobs created by the U.S. economy since 2010 has been created right here in California. So when you hear the boasts, bleats, and tweets of Washington politicians tripping over themselves to take credit for the economy, remember the real VIPs of America's GDP--the millions of California workers, investors and entrepreneurs who are actually producing their own California Dreams. Source: 2020 California State of the State address Feb 19, 2020

Chris Sununu: Pregnancy should not be a bar to employment

As part of a strong economy and workforce, we must ensure that everyone is treated with fairness and respect. As part of that effort, I have asked Senator Jeb Bradley to sponsor the New Hampshire Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, which will ensure that pregnant women are treated fairly on the job and are provided with reasonable workplace accommodations. No woman should be forced out of a job or denied employment opportunities simply because she is pregnant. Source: 2020 Alabama State of the State address Feb 13, 2020

Doug Burgum: Path to jobs is changing; not just four years of college

The model of where we think about a four-year model, on-campus thing is being challenged. The economics are shifting. As costs increase, students seek more affordable options. And we have to learn to adapt. If you can go to a 16-week coding school and get the same job as someone who went to four years of college for computer science, but the coding school person actually is more current on the tools that the company wants to hire, that's real competition. Source: 2020 North Dakota State of the State address Jan 29, 2020

Gretchen Whitmer: Expand right to overtime to tens of thousands of workers

When I was growing up, if you worked more than 40 hours a week, you were paid overtime. It was that simple. It should still be that simple. Right now, only workers making $35,000 or less have overtime rights. That threshold is too low. So, I've directed the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity to expand the right to overtime pay to tens of thousands of Michigan workers. If you're on the clock, you deserve to get paid. Source: 2020 Michigan State of the State address Jan 29, 2020

J.B. Pritzker: Bipartisan infrastructure bill creates 500,000 jobs

For the first time in a decade, we passed a bipartisan infrastructure bill. Rebuild Illinois will create and support 500,000 jobs in the state as we fix our aging and crumbling roads and bridges, bring broadband to parts of the state that are internet deserts, as well as modernize our hospitals, our community centers, our state police facilities, our universities and colleges--all of the things that keep us going and growing. Source: 2020 Illinois State of the State address Jan 29, 2020

J.B. Pritzker: Illinois Works set strong goals for diversity in hiring

Rebuild Illinois is about more than just roads, bridges and universities; it's about jobs: middle class careers with wages and benefits, the kind of jobs that help you raise a family. And together, we did more to make these jobs more inclusive and diverse, by investing in the Illinois Works program to recruit new construction apprentices and set strong goals for our public works projects to include diverse employees. Source: 2020 Illinois State of the State address Jan 29, 2020

J.B. Pritzker: Diversity & inclusion in hiring not just a talking point

When I took office, I hired people who came from all walks of life, all different backgrounds--who were diverse in gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, geography and life experience and whose only loyalty is to good ideas and good results. A commitment to diversity and inclusion is not just a talking point for me. I have an administration that looks far more like the state we represent than any that has come before it. Our state is doing better because of it. Source: 2020 Illinois State of the State address Jan 29, 2020

John Carney: Grants to small business is investment in the future

With a strong economy, it's the right time for us to invest in our future. More than half of Delawareans working are employed at small businesses. They're the engine of our economic growth. Our future success depends on finding ways to grow our small businesses. So last spring we started a new grant program: Encouraging Development, Growth and Expansion, or EDGE for short. We've awarded nearly $1.5 million in EDGE Grants to 20 companies. Source: 2020 Delaware State of the State address Jan 23, 2020

Janet Mills: Scholarships & boosted retirement benefits for firefighters

I will create a scholarship fund for young people to train in fire suppression, with the first contribution coming from my contingent account as Governor. Maine needs more firefighters, particularly in rural Maine, and to that same end, I am proud to support legislation to fund the Maine Length of Service Program to boost retirement benefits to firefighters and EMS workers to compensate them for their service. We can do this. Because we are not Washington, we are Maine. Source: 2020 Maine State of the State address Jan 21, 2020

Andy Beshear: It's time equal work results in equal pay

It means our economic approach must be grounded in creating good-paying, family-supporting jobs across our commonwealth, and not just increasing corporate profits. And that those good jobs must pay a woman the same as they would a man. In 2020, it's time equal work results in equal pay. Source: 2020 Kentucky State of the State address Jan 14, 2020

Gina Raimondo: Raise minimum wage; expand earned income tax credit

Since I've been governor, we've raised the minimum wage three times. Our hardest working Rhode Islanders deserve a raise. Let's do it again this year. At the same time, let's expand the earned income tax credit so hardworking Rhode Islanders can keep more of their money in their pockets. No one who works full time should live in poverty. Source: 2020 Rhode Island State of the State address Jan 14, 2020

Jay Inslee: Goal is meaningful career training for anyone who wants it

That success story is about Washington's innovative Career Connect Learning initiative. We've built an entire system around helping people find multiple paths to meaningful careers. For some, it's apprenticeships. For others, it's traditional higher education. We are also working to boost training for mid-career workers. Career Connect recognizes every student for who they want to be in any workplace. Our goal is nothing short of meaningful career training for anyone who wants it. Source: 2020 Washington State of the State address Jan 14, 2020

Phil Murphy: Jobs NJ: align education with needs of employers, workers

Jobs NJ is how we ensure our state prospers in good times and how it overcomes tough times. Jobs NJ has a clear mission--to better align our education system to meet the future needs of both employers and workers, and do better at matching our workers with potential employers. Jobs NJ will clear a path to ongoing job training, so residents can continue to learn and compete as the needs of employers evolve with new technologies and new economic realities. Source: 2020 New Jersey State of the State address Jan 14, 2020

Ron DeSantis: No depressed wages for Floridians due to cheap foreign labor

Lower-income workers also shouldn't have their wages depressed by cheap foreign labor. Assuring a legal workforce through E-verify will be good for the rule of law, protect taxpayers, and place an upward pressure on the wages of Floridians who work in blue collar jobs. We are a state that has an economy, not the other way around. And we need to make sure that our Florida citizens from all walks of life come first. Source: 2020 Florida State of the State address Jan 14, 2020

Doug Ducey: Help rural small businesses get Arizonans back to work

There's no shortage of new jobs in Arizona--but many vital jobs remain unfilled in our rural communities. So we've got a plan--a Rural Jobs Initiative. Small business is the backbone of our economy. We're launching a partnership with Local First Arizona to strengthen small businesses, get rural Arizonans back to work, and bolster our local economies. Source: 2020 Arizona State of the State address Jan 13, 2020

Jared Polis: Signed equal pay law; supports minority/women owned business

In Colorado, we believe your future should not be pre-determined by the color of your skin, your parents' income, your religion, your age, your disability status, where you live, where you were born, who you love, your gender identity. We believe in a Colorado For All. That's why I was proud to sign an equal pay bill guaranteeing that men and women get paid the same wage for the same work. That's why we are proud to support our minority-, women-, and veteran-owned businesses. Source: 2020 Colorado State of the State address Jan 9, 2020

Jim Justice: Free college has led to record high employment

Now, we have 20,000 new jobs today in the State of West Virginia. One of the reasons we have those jobs is a guy sitting behind me that's working that every day, and that is President Carmichael, that came up with the idea, you know, to let our kids go to college for free. It's working. It's one of the ideas that's just working. Today we have an all time high employment. All time. It just gets better and better and better. Source: 2020 West Virginia State of the State address Jan 8, 2020

Ralph Northam: Raise minimum wage; distinguish contractors and employees

Just because you have a job doesn't always mean you can survive on it. The people who are building our economy should benefit from it too. The companies that recognize this will get ahead. So let's work together to raise the minimum wage. Let's work together to help companies properly distinguish between contractors and employees. This will help workers get the fair treatment and benefits they deserve. Source: 2020 Virginia State of the State address Jan 8, 2020

The above quotations are from 2020 Governor's State of the State speeches. Click here for definitions & background information on Jobs. Click here for other issues (main summary page). Click here for more quotes by Ralph Northam on Jobs. Click here for more quotes by Charlie Baker on Jobs.
*Candidates and political leaders on Jobs:*
*Gubernatorial Debates 2020:* DE: vs.Carney(incumbent) vs.Williams(D) IN: vs.Holcomb(incumbent) vs.Melton(D) vs.Myers(D) MO: Parson(incumbent) vs.Galloway(D) vs.Neely(R) MT: Bullock(retiring) vs.Fox(R) vs.Perry(R) vs.Gianforte(R) vs.~~Stapleton~~(R) vs.Olszewski(R) vs.Neill(D) vs.Schreiner(D) vs.Cooney(D) vs.Williams(D) NC: Cooper(incumbent) vs.Forest(R) vs.Grange(R) ND: Burgum(incumbent) vs.Coachman(R) vs.Lenz(D) NH: Sununu(incumbent) vs.Volinsky(D) vs. fsFeltes(D) PR: Rossello(D) vs.Garced(D) vs.Pierluisi(D) UT: Herbert(retiring) vs.Huntsman(R) vs.Cox(R) vs.Burningham(R) vs.Newton(D) vs.Hughes(R) VT: Scott(incumbent) vs.Holcombe(D) vs.Zuckerman(D) WA: Inslee(incumbent) vs.Bryant(R) vs.Fortunato(R) WV: Justice(incumbent) vs.Folk(R) vs.Thrasher(R) vs.Vanover(D) vs.Smith(D) vs.Ron Stollings(D)	*Gubernatorial Debates 2021:* NJ: Murphy(D) vs.Ciattarelli(R) VA: Northam(D,term-limited) vs.Herring(D) vs.Chase(R) vs.Fairfax(D) *Gubernatorial Debates 2019:* KY: Bevin(R) vs.~~Goforth~~(R,lost primary) vs.~~Adkins~~(D,lost primary) vs.Beshear(D) vs.~~Edelen~~(D,lost primary) LA: Edwards(D) vs.Rispone(R) vs.Abraham(R) vs.~~Kennedy~~(R,declined) MS: ~~Bryant~~(R,retiring) vs.Foster(R) vs.Hood(D) vs.Reeves(R) vs.Waller(R)
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Page last updated: Dec 01, 2021