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.

Announcing the 2025 Workforce Leadership Academies
Blog Posts

Announcing the 2025 Workforce Leadership Academies

The Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program (EOP) is thrilled to announce the launch of six new Workforce Leadership Academies in 2025.

Upcoming EOP Events Newsletter — January 2025
Blog Posts

Upcoming EOP Events Newsletter — January 2025

Economic Opportunities Program Monthly Digest — December 2024
Blog Posts

Economic Opportunities Program Monthly Digest — December 2024

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

Upcoming Events Newsletter — December 2024
Blog Posts

Upcoming Events Newsletter — December 2024

AI Education, Digital Credentials, and Verified Skills
Blog Posts

AI Education, Digital Credentials, and Verified Skills

We are pleased to share our recent work highlighting the importance of access to AI skills, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to build their knowledge in this burgeoning field.

Job Quality Newsletter — Getting Started with Job Quality
Blog Posts

Job Quality Newsletter — Getting Started with Job Quality

Visit our new Job Quality Center of Excellence, and learn how better jobs lead to better outcomes for both workers and businesses.

An Economic Education: The Best Economy Books of 2024
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An Economic Education: The Best Economy Books of 2024

As 2024 draws to a close and we reflect on our current economic, social, and political context, the need for an economy that truly works for American families couldn’t be clearer. Here are twelve books from the last twelve months that might help us all move closer to a just economy.

Connect with UpSkill America on LinkedIn
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Connect with UpSkill America on LinkedIn

Be sure to follow UpSkill America on LinkedIn to stay up to speed on all the exciting work coming in 2025.

Resource Roundup: Paid Leave
Blog Posts

Resource Roundup: Paid Leave

Economic Opportunities Program Monthly Digest — November 2024
Blog Posts

Economic Opportunities Program Monthly Digest — November 2024

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

The Gig Economy’s Next Act: Balancing Flexibility and Security for Workers
Blog Posts

The Gig Economy’s Next Act: Balancing Flexibility and Security for Workers

The gig economy is here to stay, and I love listening to people’s stories of why they choose to do it. A driver for one of my recent rides on Lyft told me, “With Lyft, I’ll never be broke, and I can put money away for my kid’s music lessons.”

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.

Join Our Mailing List

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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