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.

Young female worker holding a digital tablet, smiling while standing with a cafe shop in the background.
Blog Posts

The Future of Higher Education is Work and Learn

Large companies are establishing education benefit programs to create clearer pathways to better jobs for frontline workers.

Worker Owned and Worker Driven
Blog Posts Longform

Worker Owned and Worker Driven

While the rideshare apps have increased convenience, they’ve eroded job quality. See how the Drivers’ Cooperative is helping to end exploitative conditions.

Creating Employee-Owned Businesses That Provide Good Jobs and Succeed
Blog Posts Longform

Creating Employee-Owned Businesses That Provide Good Jobs and Succeed

Through employee ownership, The Industrial Commons is building a new Southern working class that erases the inequities of generational poverty.

Photo of two smiling women working behind the counter of a delicatessen
Blog Posts

Good Jobs Include Equity, Respect and Voice

Leaders in business, labor, workforce development, and policy have set forth an evidence-based, shared definition of job quality as part of the Good Jobs Champions Group, an initiative of the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program and the Families and Workers Fund.

Photo of two smiling women working behind the counter of a delicatessen
Blog Posts

Statement on Good Jobs

This statement puts forth a shared definition of good jobs, supported by leaders in business, labor, workforce, policy, philanthropy, and research.

Social media image for the press release, “Aspen Institute Announces CDFI Partners to Launch ‘Shared Success Project Scaling Small Business Job Quality,’ September 28, 2022.” The image includes a photo of a small business owner holding an “Open” sign behind a glass door.
Blog Posts

Aspen Institute Announces CDFI Partners to Launch “Shared Success” Project Scaling Small Business Job Quality

Community development financial institutions will support business owners to improve jobs while strengthening their businesses.

Strengthening the Hidden Resilience Workforce
Blog Posts Longform

Strengthening the Hidden Resilience Workforce

We see the effects of climate change, but we rarely see the people who help to rebuild — and they often lack safe conditions, decent pay, or benefits.

Advancing a Pro-Worker, Pro-Climate Agenda in Texas
Blog Posts Longform

Advancing a Pro-Worker, Pro-Climate Agenda in Texas

The Texas Climate Jobs Project advances a pro-worker, pro-climate agenda — helping to solve the climate crisis while creating millions of good jobs.

Why California is Right to Regulate Fast Food
Blog Posts

Why California is Right to Regulate Fast Food

The Sept. 14 editorial objecting to California’s Fast Food Accountability and Standards Recovery Act, “This labor law needs some work,” recognized that workers in the industry are experiencing real harms — wage theft, discrimination, harassment and other violations.

Fast-food workers and their supporters march past the Capitol in Sacramento on August 16
Blog Posts

Opinion: Why California Is Right To Regulate Fast Food

Fast food is big business and should pay its own bills. Is it right to perpetuate a system that exploits people so others can save a buck on a hamburger?

A photo of a man working at a desk with a hard hat, a laptop, and a handheld radio in front of him
Blog Posts

The Digital Equity Act Creates New Opportunities: Survey Results Identify Latino Frontline Workers’ Digital Skill Needs and Promising Approaches

The Digital Equity Act presents a unique opportunity to promote digital inclusion for Latino workers and local communities.

Why California’s new Fast Food Council law is good for business
Blog Posts

Why California’s new Fast Food Council law is good for business

Sectoral bargaining for fast-food workers is an opportunity to forge win-win relationships.

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