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.

Victor Gutierrez, Aon apprentice
Blog Posts

Aon’s Apprenticeship in Professional Services

Aon’s apprenticeship program allows young professionals to develop vital skills and earn a competitive salary while they learn.

The 411 on the “Future of Work”
Blog Posts

The 411 on the “Future of Work”

We don’t have to abandon old ideals in the new economy. We can choose to make new jobs better.

Taco Bell Partners With Guild To Expand Education Support To Its Entire System Of Team Members
Blog Posts

Taco Bell Partners With Guild To Expand Education Support To Its Entire System Of Team Members

Hungry for upskilling? Taco Bell & Guild Education are offering education support to 210,000 employees across 7,000 restaurants.

AT&T Invests $1 Billion in Employee Reskilling
Blog Posts

AT&T Invests $1 Billion in Employee Reskilling

Making the connection: AT&T is boosting institutional knowledge & employee retention by upskilling its employees.

An Interview with Job Quality Fellow Lara Shock
Blog Posts Longform

An Interview with Job Quality Fellow Lara Shock

“Job quality should mean something more than minimum wage and safety standards. As employees, we should want more. As a society, we should expect more.”

What’s new at the Economic Opportunities Program, March 2018
Blog Posts

What’s new at the Economic Opportunities Program, March 2018

Learn how EOP is driving change and helping low- and moderate-income Americans connect to and thrive in a changing economy.

The Future of the American Dream is Latino
Blog Posts

The Future of the American Dream is Latino

By 2060, Latinos will make up 30 percent of the US population. How can we help them better connect to the economy?

Hotel Industry and Pearson Partner to Offer Debt-Free College Degrees to Employees
Blog Posts

Hotel Industry and Pearson Partner to Offer Debt-Free College Degrees to Employees

This groundbreaking initiative will offer streamlined degree programs to employees across ten companies and 1,500 properties.

2018 Workplace Learning Report: The Rise and Responsibility of Talent Development in the New Labor Market
Blog Posts

2018 Workplace Learning Report: The Rise and Responsibility of Talent Development in the New Labor Market

LinkedIn surveyed approximately 4,000 professionals to provide a holistic view of modern workplace learning.

Creating Effective Policies to Support Entrepreneurship
Blog Posts

Creating Effective Policies to Support Entrepreneurship

The path to a more dynamic economy lies in opening opportunities for women and people of color.

How a Farmworker Movement Changed the Way Your Food Gets Made
Blog Posts

How a Farmworker Movement Changed the Way Your Food Gets Made

Members of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers joined a farm owner and an author to discuss fair food.

An Interview with Job Quality Fellow Jose Corona
Blog Posts Longform

An Interview with Job Quality Fellow Jose Corona

“If we are serious about creating prosperity that truly works for all, we have to start by ensuring we have the right leaders with the right values in the right place.”

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