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.

New Hire Checklist: Supporting your Employees from the Start
Publications

New Hire Checklist: Supporting your Employees from the Start

How good are the jobs in your small business? Use this tool to check what you’re doing well and where you can improve.

Good Job Inventory: Understand and Measure the Quality of Jobs You Offer
Publications

Good Job Inventory: Understand and Measure the Quality of Jobs You Offer

How good are the jobs in your small business? Use this tool to check what you’re doing well and where you can improve.

Upskilling Playbook: Implementation
Publications

Upskilling Playbook: Implementation

Effective change management, communication, and stakeholder engagement are essential for overcoming challenges and ensuring long-term success.

Upskilling Playbook: Metrics
Publications

Upskilling Playbook: Metrics

Measuring the impact of upskilling is crucial for demonstrating its value and driving continuous improvement.

Upskilling Playbook: Program Components
Publications

Upskilling Playbook: Program Components

Designing effective upskilling programs requires a holistic approach that considers various interconnected components.

Upskilling Playbook: Types of Upskilling
Publications

Upskilling Playbook: Types of Upskilling

Upskilling is not one-size-fits-all. Organizations must strategically select the right types to align with business and employee growth.

Upskilling Playbook: Ecosystem
Publications

Upskilling Playbook: Ecosystem

Developing a 21st century workforce requires an intentional ecosystem approach that connects talent development to business priorities.

Upskilling Playbook: Overview
Publications

Upskilling Playbook: Overview

This playbook provides guidance for people leaders, business executives, and decision-makers to design and implement effective upskilling strategies.

Upskilling Playbook for Employers
Publications

Upskilling Playbook for Employers

This playbook is a strategic guide for organizations to build, scale, and integrate skills-based workforce development initiatives that drive business performance and career growth

Improving Job Quality Through Data-Driven Impact Procurement
Publications

Improving Job Quality Through Data-Driven Impact Procurement

The role of private sector procurement and how it can be leveraged to affect economic opportunities for workers has become a critical area for attention.

Shared Success Midpoint Evaluation Overview
Publications

Shared Success Midpoint Evaluation Overview

One third of businesses reported adding employee benefits since baseline. The main employee benefits offered at midline are PTO (69%), paid sick leave (56%), health insurance (54%), and professional development opportunities (50%). These have both financial and opportunity costs to firms.

Employee Ownership and ESOPs – What We Know from Recent Research
Publications

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

Back to the Future of Work: Revisiting the Past and Shaping the Future
Podcasts Videos

Back to the Future of Work: Revisiting the Past and Shaping the Future

For highlights from this discussion, subscribe to our YouTube channel. Or subscribe to our podcast to listen on the go.

To Help Small Businesses Recover From the L.A. Fires, Invest in Community Lenders
Blog Posts

To Help Small Businesses Recover From the L.A. Fires, Invest in Community Lenders

Nonprofit lenders often deploy funds faster than the government but need more capital to meet demand.

Resource Roundup: Life Beyond Work
Blog Posts

Resource Roundup: Life Beyond Work

Shared Success Evaluation Results
Publications

Shared Success Evaluation Results

This endline evaluation of the Shared Success demonstration aims to understand the impact of the work of the 11 community lenders who integrated job quality programming into their small business support services.

The Power to Shape What Comes Next: Writing the Future of Work Together
Blog Posts

The Power to Shape What Comes Next: Writing the Future of Work Together

We get it right when we focus on fundamentals: recognize that job quality matters more than job quantity; center care work as essential to economic function; build coalitions across labor, technology policy, and civil society; understand that flexibility without security is precarity; remember that workers are also caregivers, creatives, and civic leaders.

A Clear Path Forward: Catalyzing Success for Working Learners in Texas Nursing Programs
Blog Posts

A Clear Path Forward: Catalyzing Success for Working Learners in Texas Nursing Programs

Forty-five dedicated leaders—representing nursing programs, critical hospital partners, regional workforce boards, and vital funder partners—convened in Austin.

UpSkill America & Guild Announce Third Cohort of Education and Career Mobility Fellowship
Blog Posts

UpSkill America & Guild Announce Third Cohort of Education and Career Mobility Fellowship

“We are delighted to welcome this new class of Fellows,” said UpSkill America Senior Director Haley Glover. “Supporting these leaders, who are joining a thriving community of alumni, to advance in their work and careers creating real value for their organizations and opportunities for their workforces is so rewarding. This is an incredibly impressive group.”