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.

Blog Posts

Announcing the Job Quality Fellowship Class of 2025-26

The Fellows are leaders from differing lines of work who are working to expand the availability of quality jobs in the US South.

October 6, 2025

Blog Posts

Will the Return of Manufacturing Mean the Return of Good Jobs?  

When commentators and policymakers talk about economic opportunity, they often point to the manufacturing sector as an area of promise — one where workers without four-year degrees can enjoy stable, middle-class jobs with good benefits and a secure retirement. At

October 3, 2025

Blog Posts

Economic Opportunities Program Monthly Digest — September 2025

We are pleased to present a selection of our work from the past month.

October 1, 2025

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Worker Power & Agency

No matter how the technology evolves, workers will have a seat at the table in its development and deployment. 

October 1, 2025

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Blog Posts

Building Better Jobs: How Small Businesses Can Lead the Way to Economic Opportunity

Through Shared Success, participating businesses demonstrated that improvements in job quality and overall benefits are both possible and effective.

September 23, 2025

Graphic image featuring headshots of four speakers: Adria Powell, Michael Quarrey, Xavier de Souza Briggs, Chris Griswold
Blog Posts

The Future of the American Worker

September 17, 2025

Woman in an office setting reviewing papers with graphs.
Blog Posts

Early Findings: Employer Perspectives on Skills Validation and Trust 

We’re just getting started with this analysis. Stay tuned in the coming months for insights on  the kinds of information about skills that employers are really looking for in wallets and portfolios, where in the talent management life cycle employers think having validated skills will pay off most, and what it will take for employers and HR professionals to adopt tools that use validated skills.

September 16, 2025

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Upcoming Events from the Economic Opportunities Program — September & October 2025

The Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program advances strategies, policies, and ideas to help low- and moderate-income people thrive in a changing economy. We hope you’ll join us at one of our upcoming events, which you can learn about below.

September 11, 2025

Blog Posts

Worker Power in the Age of AI Monopolies: Why We Need Structural Solutions Now

Elizabeth Wilkins

September 10, 2025

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Job Quality Newsletter – Reflections Beyond Labor Day

In this edition of our Job Quality Newsletter, we share reflections beyond Labor Day and explore how good jobs can shape the well-being of workers, families, and communities.

September 9, 2025

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Reflections on the Future of Work from Aspen Ideas Festival 2025

At this year’s Aspen Ideas Festival, conversations across sessions from AI to religion to capitalism kept circling around a question that’s been keeping me up at night: How do we ensure rapid, disruptive change strengthens rather than erodes American opportunity and democracy?

August 31, 2025

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

Blog Posts

UpSkill America & Guild Announce Third Cohort of Education and Career Mobility Fellowship

“We are delighted to welcome this new class of Fellows,” said UpSkill America Senior Director Haley Glover. “Supporting these leaders, who are joining a thriving community of alumni, to advance in their work and careers creating real value for their organizations and opportunities for their workforces is so rewarding. This is an incredibly impressive group.”

Blog Posts Of Interest

National Job Quality Practitioner Survey

We’re in the last month of our #JobQuality survey. If your org is improving #JobQuality, add your voice to this survey from The Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program by December 31st.

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Institutional Investment and Employee Ownership

Of Interest

Transcript — Backsliding on Child Protections: The Return of Child Labor in the US

The following transcript comes from our webinar, “Backsliding on Child Protections: The Return of Child Labor in the US,” hosted by the Economic Opportunities Program on November 19, 2025.

Blog Posts

Job Quality Newsletter – Low Quality, High Costs

In this edition of the Job Quality Newsletter, we unpack why manufacturing jobs are often seen as desirable yet don’t consistently deliver on that promise, highlight research that shows how efforts to strengthen businesses can also improve the quality of jobs they provide, and consider how government purchasing power can be used to set higher job standards across the sector.

Blog Posts
Close-up photo of hands typing on a laptop keyboard
Publications

Upskilling Playbook: AI, Skill Development, and the Workforce

Leaders must view AI adoption as a development opportunity to redefine how capability is built, focusing on outcomes and consciously reinvesting capacity freed by automation to ensure growth and resilience for both the business and its people.