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.

How can I help my employees manage increased stress?
Longform Publications

How can I help my employees manage increased stress?

How can I reassure my workers that we are following appropriate safety guidelines?
Longform Publications
How can I help my employees communicate and implement safety measures with customers?
Longform Publications
First page (report cover) of "Creating Entrepreneurship Pathways for Opportunity Youth: Lessons From Del Norte and Tribal Lands, California"
Publications

Creating Entrepreneurship Pathways for Opportunity Youth: Lessons From Del Norte and Tribal Lands, California

We must create career pathways for opportunity youth that are responsive to their interests and aspirations.

Voices from the Field: Engaging Employers to Connect Young Adults to Good Fit Employment
Publications

Voices from the Field: Engaging Employers to Connect Young Adults to Good Fit Employment

Young workers are facing dire employment prospects. But asking employers the right questions can help identify opportunities.

Job Quality Tools Library Feedback and Questions
Longform Publications

Job Quality Tools Library Feedback and Questions

We are eager to hear more about the tools or resources you have found helpful and how we can continue to improve the library.

Screenshot of the "Live Better U Skilled Trades Certificates" infographic
Publications

Live Better U Skilled Trades Certificates

This infographic describes Walmart’s skilled trades certificates program, offered through its Live Better U education benefit.

Screenshot of the first page of "An Equity Imperative: How the Workforce System Can Advance Workplace Health and Safety During and After Pandemic"
Publications

An Equity Imperative: How the Workforce System Can Advance Workplace Health and Safety During and After the Pandemic

Strengthening health, safety, and equity during the pandemic can set a foundation for better working conditions in the long term.

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Publications

Modernizing Tax Incentives for Employer-Provided Educational Assistance: Can Section 127 Help Prepare Workers for the Future of Work?

The tax exclusion for employer-provided educational assistance, located in Section 127 of the tax code, is one tool that allows employers to support their employees’ pursuit of education.

Tools: Supportive Work Environment
Longform Publications

Tools: Supportive Work Environment

View tools and resources related to a supportive work environment, a core dimension of job quality.

Tools: Health Benefits
Longform Publications

Tools: Health Benefits

View tools related to health benefits, a core dimension of job quality.

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