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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EntrepreneurTracker Client Outcomes Highlights – 2015
Publications

EntrepreneurTracker Client Outcomes Highlights – 2015

This brief summarizes business-related outcomes reported by microenterprise clients in 2015.

The Promise of Shared Platforms for the Microenterprise Industry: Lessons for Platform Creators
Publications

The Promise of Shared Platforms for the Microenterprise Industry: Lessons for Platform Creators

Shared platforms are changing the way microenterprise development organizations work. What lessons does this hold for platform creators?

The Promise of Shared Platforms for the Microenterprise Industry: Lessons for Platform Users
Publications

The Promise of Shared Platforms for the Microenterprise Industry: Lessons for Platform Users

Shared platforms are changing the way microenterprise development organizations work. What lessons does this hold for platform users?

The Promise of Shared Platforms for the Microenterprise Industry: Lessons for Platform Funders
Publications

The Promise of Shared Platforms for the Microenterprise Industry: Lessons for Platform Funders

Shared platforms are changing the way microenterprise development organizations work. What lessons does this hold for funders?

The Promise of Shared Platforms for the Microenterprise Industry
Publications

The Promise of Shared Platforms for the Microenterprise Industry

Shared platforms are changing the way microenterprise development organizations work.

Investing in Workforce Program Innovation
Publications

Investing in Workforce Program Innovation

This report offers insights into the complex work of developing and maintaining relationships that cross institutions.

Bridging the Divide: How Business Ownership Can Help Close the Racial Wealth Gap
Publications

Bridging the Divide: How Business Ownership Can Help Close the Racial Wealth Gap

Our nation faces a growing racial wealth gap. How can entrepreneurship help build wealth for people of color?

Communities that Work Partnership Social Media Toolkit
Publications

Communities that Work Partnership Social Media Toolkit

Help us share the lessons, accomplishments, and future directions of the Communities that Work Partnership.

Communities that Work Partnership Playbook
Publications

Communities that Work Partnership Playbook

This playbook presents the work of seven regional partnerships engaged in the Communities that Work Partnership.

Philanthropy and the Future of Work: Dimensions of Change and Opportunities for Action
Publications

Philanthropy and the Future of Work: Dimensions of Change and Opportunities for Action

Work is changing in many ways. What does this mean for leaders in philanthropy seeking to expand economic opportunities for low- and moderate-income workers?

Working Together to Strengthen America’s Immigrant Workforce: Partnerships Between Community Colleges and Immigrant-Serving Organizations
Publications

Working Together to Strengthen America’s Immigrant Workforce: Partnerships Between Community Colleges and Immigrant-Serving Organizations

Immigrant workers are a key segment of our workforce, and expanding opportunities for this group benefits our economy as a whole. How can immigrant-serving organizations and community colleges unite to achieve this?

Capacity Building in Community Colleges for Student Career Success
Publications

Capacity Building in Community Colleges for Student Career Success

This publication provides a short summary of community colleges’ experiences with TAACCCT-funded capacity-building and areas that merit further exploration.

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