States are introducing and enacting an increasing number of bills targeted toward workforce development and career and technical education. The increase in legislation illustrates a shift toward creating collaborations between higher education institutions and employers in the state as one strategy to enhance workforce development and postsecondary attainment success. Internships and work-based learning are a growing trend in state policy focusing on workforce development. Increasing the availability of internships and career curriculum can expose students to workforce needs in their state, multiple career pathways and the hard skills required for employment in high demand occupations. States' monitoring of employer needs can help institutions create a comprehensive career education curriculum and expose students to the skills needed for jobs in their community. The Education Commission of the States (ECS) reviewed enacted legislation, from 2012-14, across the 50 U.S. states that addressed higher education and workforce development. The specific substance of bills identified and cataloged varied, including bills addressing the creation and funding of state longitudinal data systems, targeted programs and pathways connecting specific workforce needs with educational offerings, financial incentives to complete specified education programs leading to employment in high demand fields and the creation of working groups or commissioning of reports addressing education to workforce pathways. This brief provides a deeper dive into the content of the specific policies that create targeted programs and pathways connecting specific workforce needs with educational offerings. The purpose of this brief is to assist state leaders in acquiring information about policies that can better align education programs and workforce needs.