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.

Economic Opportunities Program Monthly Digest — February 2025
Blog Posts

Economic Opportunities Program Monthly Digest — February 2025

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

Resource Roundup: Employee Ownership
Blog Posts

Resource Roundup: Employee Ownership

Leadership, Like a Letter, Takes Time: Why Upskilling Must Be Part of a Human-Centered Strategy
Blog Posts

Leadership, Like a Letter, Takes Time: Why Upskilling Must Be Part of a Human-Centered Strategy

Look at these mailboxes. I walked by them and considered what they represented. People would take the time to write a letter—to consider their words, to connect with someone who mattered, to share something meaningful. And for those receiving, they’d peek through the glass to see if something was there (just perhaps once a day). And, once received, take the time to read, reflect, and absorb. It was deliberate. It required thoughtfulness and patience. It built relationships.

Job Quality Newsletter — Why the Fight for Equal Opportunity Is Important
Blog Posts

Job Quality Newsletter — Why the Fight for Equal Opportunity Is Important

In this month’s newsletter, we lift up some of the upcoming and past discussions and writings we’ve done on equal opportunity at work.

Canaries in the Coal Mine: Domestic Workers and the Future of Work
Blog Posts Podcasts

Canaries in the Coal Mine: Domestic Workers and the Future of Work

In this conversation, we explore what the past can teach us about the future — and how we can ensure that workers have a say in what comes next.

Upcoming EOP Events Newsletter — February 2025
Blog Posts

Upcoming EOP Events Newsletter — February 2025

Join us on Zoom on Wednesday, February 26, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Eastern time, for our next event, “Re-Entry and Good Jobs: Building the Second Chances We All Believe In.”

Economic Opportunities Program Monthly Digest — January 2025
Blog Posts

Economic Opportunities Program Monthly Digest — January 2025

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

Resource Roundup: Today’s Working Class
Blog Posts
Building Skills for Long Term Growth
Blog Posts

Building Skills for Long Term Growth

Forward-thinking organizations are recognizing that investing in both technical and durable skills is more than an HR strategy—it’s a competitive advantage.

Job Quality Newsletter — 2024 Highlights
Blog Posts
U.S. Workers Are Falling Behind. Can They Catch Up?
Blog Posts

U.S. Workers Are Falling Behind. Can They Catch Up?

At UpSkill America, we are focused on helping employers design and develop education programs that leverage best practices and ensure employees have the support they need to succeed.

Beyond Automation Anxiety: Shifting the Narrative from Technological Fears to Worker Power
Blog Posts

Beyond Automation Anxiety: Shifting the Narrative from Technological Fears to Worker Power

How do we think about cities, states, and municipalities as sites of experimentation and contestation for new models of workers co-designing technology initiatives with employers?

  • Michelle Miller

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