The Economic Opportunities Program advances strategies, policies, and ideas to help low- and moderate-income people thrive in a changing economy.

We recognize that race, gender, and place intersect with and intensify the challenge of economic inequality and we address these dynamics by advancing an inclusive vision of economic justice. For over 25 years, EOP has focused on expanding individuals’ opportunities to connect to quality work, start businesses, and build economic stability that provides the freedom to pursue opportunity.

We collaborate with national and local leaders across the United States – nonprofit leaders, policymakers, labor leaders, business leaders, educators, academics, and more – and we actively seek input and ideas from individuals and communities affected by proposed approaches to address economic opportunity challenges. Through our leadership and fellowship programs; applied research and evaluation; data and analysis; and dialogue with diverse stakeholders, we work at both local and national levels to build understanding and galvanize action to address the challenge of economic opportunity in America.

Join our mailing list and follow us on social media for regular updates on our work.

The Future of Work Demands a New Playbook for Upskilling
Blog Posts

The Future of Work Demands a New Playbook for Upskilling

The future of work demands more than updates, it calls for a bold new upskilling playbook built for speed, scale, and real-world impact.

Job Quality Newsletter – Practical Tools for Better Jobs
Blog Posts

Job Quality Newsletter – Practical Tools for Better Jobs

In this edition of our Job Quality Newsletter, we explore new tools, resources, and strategies to advance job quality in your organization.

Image of an abstract bar chart with the UpSkill America logo on the top left.
Blog Posts

The Future of Talent Development: Reimagining Systems for 2025 and Beyond

To create a future-ready workforce system, we must move beyond outdated credentials and analog processes to one that is skills-first, transparent, data-driven, and aligned with the evolving needs of workers, educators, and employers.

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Blog Posts Podcasts
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Blog Posts Podcasts

Job Quality and Cultural Context

Decorative banner featuring the logo of UpSkill America at the Aspen Institute. The background includes a stylized silhouette of two construction workers wearing hard hats and looking at a construction site.
Blog Posts

Refreshing the Playbook: UpSkill America’s Guide to Building Programs with Lasting Impact

UpSkill America is refreshing its playbook to help workers and employers thrive in a rapidly changing world of work.

The Changing Face of Retirement and the Future of Work: Big questions and Bold Solutions
Blog Posts

The Changing Face of Retirement and the Future of Work: Big questions and Bold Solutions

The retirement landscape is at a critical juncture, and it’s created a global opportunity — and responsibility — for us all. Evolving workplace retirement plans, increasing longevity, and changing workforce dynamics create even more demand for secure investment products and lifetime income solutions. Through hybrid approaches, innovative financial products, and a focus on financial education, we can ensure that the future of work includes the future-ready resources that people need to live better lives, longer.

Economic Opportunities Program Monthly Digest — April 2025
Blog Posts

Economic Opportunities Program Monthly Digest — April 2025

We are pleased to present a selection of our work from the past month, including videos, commentary, events, and more.

Job Quality Newsletter – Taking the Lead on Better Jobs
Blog Posts

Job Quality Newsletter – Taking the Lead on Better Jobs

In this edition of our Job Quality Newsletter, we highlight leaders across a range of organizations who are championing job quality.

About the Economic Opportunities Program

The Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program advances strategies, policies, and ideas to help low- and moderate-income people thrive in a changing economy.

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More from the Economic Opportunities Program

Foundational Skills: National Survey Findings
Publications

Foundational Skills: National Survey Findings

This publication examines how fragmented skills, credentialing, and workforce data systems limit the potential of skills-based hiring and advancement, and outlines a shared vision for building the interoperable infrastructure needed to create a connected skills ecosystem that benefits workers, employers, educators, and governments.

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Podcasts Videos

What Employee Ownership Means to Workers

This conversation is part of our Opportunity in America series, where we take a look at the economy, what’s working, what’s broken, and really how we fix it to make sure that everyone can succeed in today’s economy.

Resource Roundup: Wages and Affordability
Blog Posts
Room for Growth: A Survey of Upskilling Approaches — 2026 Analysis
Publications

Room for Growth: A Survey of Upskilling Approaches — 2026 Analysis

This publication examines how fragmented skills, credentialing, and workforce data systems limit the potential of skills-based hiring and advancement, and outlines a shared vision for building the interoperable infrastructure needed to create a connected skills ecosystem that benefits workers, employers, educators, and governments.

Building Economic Security: A Book Talk with Arindrajit Dube and Carrie Joy Grimes
Podcasts Videos

Building Economic Security: A Book Talk with Arindrajit Dube and Carrie Joy Grimes

Economic security shouldn’t be a lottery. Yet for millions of working families, stagnant wages and precarious jobs collide with the daily grind of managing money on shaky ground — leaving stability feeling less like a plan and more like a gamble. Fixing that takes more than one lever. It takes structural reform and the tools people need to take control of their financial lives, working together.

What Employee Ownership Means to Workers
Publications

What Employee Ownership Means to Workers

Insights from Focus Groups with Employee Owners