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 Many Firms Are Good Candidates for Employee Ownership?
Publications
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Publications

Ownership With a Purpose: A Case Study of Clegg Auto’s Employee Ownership Trust

This profile of Clegg Auto illustrates the company’s experience becoming employee-owned, the innovative holding company model it pursued, and its employees’ perspective on the transition and what ownership means to them.

Driving Value through Innovation: Verified Credential Insights from Cisive PreCheck
Publications

Driving Value through Innovation: Verified Credential Insights from Cisive PreCheck

Cisive’s work to utilize and issue digital credentials is supported by the Velocity Network, a blockchain-based utility layer governed by member organizations that enables secure, portable storage and sharing of digital credentials.

Legacy and Community Engagement Leads to Impact: How Mickey’s Popcorn Prioritizes Work-Based Learning to Grow Their Business
Publications

Legacy and Community Engagement Leads to Impact: How Mickey’s Popcorn Prioritizes Work-Based Learning to Grow Their Business

In this interview, Dr. Penny Smith-Mickey shares the story behind Mickey’s Popcorn, its commitment to workforce development, and how the company scaled into a growing enterprise leveraging apprenticeships. As a small business, Mickey’s Popcorn is a shining example of how employers can use skills-based practices to drive value for their business and employees.

Prioritizing Small and Mid-Sized Businesses: Early Lessons for Skills and Credentials Leaders
Publications

Prioritizing Small and Mid-Sized Businesses: Early Lessons for Skills and Credentials Leaders

Evidence of skills proficiency, supported in ways that are fraud-proof and trustworthy, are foundational to the long-term success and scaling of Skills First talent management practices. And validated skills are what employers want and need.

Upskilling for Small and Mid-Sized Businesses
Publications

Upskilling for Small and Mid-Sized Businesses

The question is not “Should SMBs invest in upskilling?” They must for their own continued competitiveness, for the good of their employees, and for the good of our society and economy. The question is “How should SMBs invest in upskilling?”

Building Shared Success: A Guide to Small Business Job Quality Advising for CDFIs
Publications

Building Shared Success: A Guide to Small Business Job Quality Advising for CDFIs

This tool offers guidance for business advisors at CDFIs on how to have conversations with small business owners on job quality improvements.

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Publications

Navigating the Compliance Landscape to Advance Good Jobs: Resources for Small Businesses

This resource guide is intended to help small businesses overcome compliance hurdles and navigate quickly evolving regulatory landscapes.

Employer Insights on Digital Credentials and Skills Profiles: Lessons Learned
Publications

Employer Insights on Digital Credentials and Skills Profiles: Lessons Learned

UpSkill America, an initiative of the Aspen Institute’s Economic Opportunities Program, conducted the qualitative study on behalf of Western Governors University. The report describes what employers said they need to make better use of these Learning and Employment Records and makes recommendations for credential providers.

Piloting Innovation: Launching LERs in Arizona
Publications
WIOA, Employee Ownership, and Good Jobs: How Workforce Legislation Can Support Employee-Owned Companies and Boost Job Quality
Publications

WIOA, Employee Ownership, and Good Jobs: How Workforce Legislation Can Support Employee-Owned Companies and Boost Job Quality

The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) was designed to help workers move “into high-quality jobs and careers and help employers hire and retain skilled workers.”

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.”