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.

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From Silos to Systems: Building the Skills Ecosystem America Needs
Publications

From Silos to Systems: Building the Skills Ecosystem America Needs

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.

Upskilling Playbook: Getting Started with Apprenticeship
Publications

Upskilling Playbook: Getting Started with Apprenticeship

This chapter walks organizations through the key decisions and steps required to launch a successful apprenticeship program.

Shared Success by the Numbers
Publications

Shared Success by the Numbers

This infographic shares statistics on impact of the Economic Opportunities Program’s Shared Success demonstration. Dive into a detailed breakdown of the diverse businesses and entrepreneurs involved in this work.

Final Lessons: Insights from the 2025 Workforce Leadership Academies
Publications

Final Lessons: Insights from the 2025 Workforce Leadership Academies

This report captures the growth and reflections of the teams in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and the Greater Triangle, North Carolina, after their 12-month journey, including their final reflections on strategic leadership, grounded in the lessons learned in the pursuit of building a more equitable and resilient economy.

What We Learned: A Conversation on Employer-Led Upskilling for Small and Medium-Sized Businesses
Publications

What We Learned: A Conversation on Employer-Led Upskilling for Small and Medium-Sized Businesses

This piece summarizes the foundational insights gathered by UpSkill America through years of research into how small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) can effectively implement talent development.

De-Risking the Future: How Small Businesses Can Leverage Outcomes-Based Financing to Build Resilient Talent Pipelines
Publications

De-Risking the Future: How Small Businesses Can Leverage Outcomes-Based Financing to Build Resilient Talent Pipelines

For the working adult learner, the path to a better career is often blocked by a wall of “what-ifs.” What if child care falls through? What if the tuition isn’t worth the debt? What if the job market doesn’t deliver after the investment?

The Care Catalyst: How Child Care Benefits Make the Difference in Retention for Small Businesses
Publications

The Care Catalyst: How Child Care Benefits Make the Difference in Retention for Small Businesses

This brief explores how Arkansas is leveraging strategic investments in child care benefits to stabilize employees, strengthening small businesses and communities across the state by highlighting the work of Excel by Eight and two small businesses.

Photos of workers at small businesses by Barbara Magnoni
Publications

Shared Success Final Evaluation Reports

  • Tim Ogden
  • Barbara Magnoni
  • Tracy Cole
Investing in People, Investing in Success: How Internal Job Quality Can Strengthen Community Development Financial Institutions
Publications

Investing in People, Investing in Success: How Internal Job Quality Can Strengthen Community Development Financial Institutions

This brief shares key lessons and takeaways that could be used to implement internal job quality practices to strengthen CDFIs and other small business support organizations. 

Trellis Foundation Directory — Nursing Programs in Texas
Publications

Trellis Foundation Directory — Nursing Programs in Texas

This directory highlights the implementation partners participating in Streamlining Success in Nursing Training Programs in Texas, a multi-year initiative focused on advancing innovative, work-based approaches to nursing education across the state.

How Understanding and Acting on Workers’ Perspectives Drives Small Business Success: Lessons From Shared Success CDFIs
Publications

How Understanding and Acting on Workers’ Perspectives Drives Small Business Success: Lessons From Shared Success CDFIs

Supporting small business owners in understanding and acting on workers’ perspectives is a promising practice for simultaneously advancing job quality and small business development organizations’ missions to promote economic resilience.

Shared Success Mid-Term Evaluation Report
Publications

Shared Success Mid-Term Evaluation Report

Comprehensive findings from qualitative and quantitative research on participating small business owners and workers conducted at the end of the demonstration will be released in spring 2026.

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