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.

The Shape of Retail
Publications

The Shape of Retail

Reimagine Retail shows what’s possible when communitybased organizations and retailers design local solutions that improve workers’ lives and business resilience.

Cover Page: "Employment Outlook Projections: A Community Guide (May 2019)"
Publications

Employment Outlook Projections: A Community Guide (May 2019)

This guide provides instructions on how to access employment projections for Opportunity Youth Forum communities.

Question Bank for Workforce Service Providers: A Tool for Working with Retailers
Publications

Question Bank for Workforce Service Providers: A Tool for Working with Retailers

Learning-focused conversations can help workforce development professionals build relationships with retail businesses.

Cost of Turnover Tool: Make the business case to improve retention through upskilling and stability
Publications

Cost of Turnover Tool

Estimate how much your business spends each year replacing staff in one occupation.

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Publications

A Retailer Bets on Learning and Development: Goodwill Industries® of San Diego County

Faced with a higher minimum wage, Goodwill San Diego chose to invest in its workforce rather than cut staff. Learn how retail and other low-margin industries can remain competitive despite increased labor costs, such as minimum wage increases.

Creating Entrepreneurship Pathways for Opportunity Youth: Early Experiences from the Youth Entrepreneurship Fund Grantees
Publications

Creating Entrepreneurship Pathways for Opportunity Youth: Early Experiences from the Youth Entrepreneurship Fund Grantees

Entrepreneurship can help young people gain the skills and experience needed to succeed in the working world.

Upskilling Year in Review 2018
Publications

Upskilling Year in Review 2018

Employers across the country launched new upskilling programs to help workers learn new skills and build their careers.

Exploring Employee Share Ownership as a Potential Investment Strategy in Opportunity Zones
Publications

Exploring Employee Share Ownership as a Potential Investment Strategy in Opportunity Zones

Expanding employee ownership is a demonstrated way to create quality jobs and increase employee wealth.

Keeping Score: The Institute’s New Tool to Measure Good Jobs
Publications

Keeping Score: The Institute’s New Tool to Measure Good Jobs

For the first time, the Institute is entering into an agreement to license intellectual property for an innovative new tool: software that measures job quality and employee diversity.

Stake Your Claim
Publications

Stake Your Claim

By allowing people to own a piece of the company that employs them, capital share strategies are changing how Americans work and businesses earn—and everyone’s a winner.

Chicago's Fresh Approach to Incumbent Worker Training (report cover)
Publications

Chicago’s Fresh Approach to Incumbent Worker Training

This family-owned grocer recognizes what it takes to succeed in a rapidly changing industry.

Background Information: “Fresh Pathways: Strategies to Improve Job Quality and Equity in Food Retail”
Publications

Background Information: “Fresh Pathways: Strategies to Improve Job Quality and Equity in Food Retail”

The holiday season is the perfect time to consider the workers who shape our shopping experience.

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