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.

Seeing Talent Differently: How Education and Career Mobility Fellows are Reshaping Opportunity for Workers Everywhere
Blog Posts

Seeing Talent Differently: How Education and Career Mobility Fellows are Reshaping Opportunity for Workers Everywhere

The fall of each year brings with it leaves changing, cooler temperatures, and “conference season” — the time of year where individuals gather from all over to share ideas, catch up, and make change for the better.

Securing The Future of America’s Critical Industries
Blog Posts

Securing The Future of America’s Critical Industries

Upcoming Events from the Economic Opportunities Program — October & November 2025
Blog Posts

Upcoming Events from the Economic Opportunities Program — October & November 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.

Announcing the Job Quality Fellowship Class of 2025-26
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.

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

Economic Opportunities Program Monthly Digest — September 2025
Blog Posts

Economic Opportunities Program Monthly Digest — September 2025

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

Worker Power & Agency
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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. 

Resource Roundup: Worker Power in a Changing Economy
Blog Posts
Concept of Teamwork, people building gear wheels. isolated on white background. Vector illustration.
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.

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

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.

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