Gov. Kelly Armstrong announced at the Governor's Workforce Summit that North Dakota had consolidated its workforce programs under a single agency and named Katie Ralston Howe as the state's first workforce commissioner. Ralston Howe had been serving as deputy commissioner and director of Workforce Development at Commerce.

Armstrong said combining programs that had been spread across several agencies would strengthen coordination and improve service for workers and employers. A Workforce Subcabinet review found the fragmented structure was no longer sustainable as federal funding declined.

Ralston Howe said the unified agency would give the state a clearer strategy and make it easier for people and businesses to access services. As part of the change, the state launched NDwin, a new website designed to serve as the front door to workforce programs and help users more easily find support.

About 300 employees from Commerce's Workforce Development Division, Job Service North Dakota, Adult Education, Vocational Rehabilitation and the Office of Refugee Resettlement were included in the new structure. The agency also took on the State Apprenticeship Office to help expand Registered Apprenticeship Programs.

No staffing changes are planned, though roles could shift once lawmakers act on creating the Department of Workforce Development. If approved, the agency would take effect July 1, 2027.

Source: ND Commerce Connection, September 2026