STARs Public Sector Hub
The Tools and Resources You Need to Build a Skills-Based Labor Market
Mississippi: Outcomes Over Activity
See how Mississippi rebuilt workforce investment to focus on outcomes. Learn the three-filter approach that redirects funding to real opportunity.
Take your skills-based hiring to the next level
Institutional membership is designed for state and local government agencies seeking to implement skills-based hiring practices at scale.
Become an Institutional Member
Learn more about institutional membership for state and local government agencies.
Events
Progress in Action
The Progress and Impact of Commitments to Skills-Based Hiring in the Public Sector
State of the Paper Ceiling
Learn about our landmark research quantifying the movement of STARs through the labor market over time, allowing us to chart past progress and the road ahead.
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The STARs Report: Unlocking STAR Mobility in the Public Sector
How can governments build stronger workforces while opening doors for millions of overlooked workers?
Building a Skills-Based Labor Market
A session to help translate policy momentum into meaningful change and position your organization to lead in a skills-first future.
From Hire to Retire: How Skills-Based Practices are Reshaping Government HR
Government HR is shifting away from degrees and job titles toward what people can actually do. This webinar explores what a skills-first approach looks like across the talent lifecycle, how to apply the Skills-Based Organization Playbook in a government context, and real lessons from Arizona's own transition. HR leaders from the Arizona Department of Health Services and ADOA join Opportunity@Work to share what the shift actually takes.
Identifying Skills & Writing Job Descriptions
This member-only series is designed as an interactive, peer-driven working session — not a webinar. Registration is only open to people working in the public sector.
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Using Data to Advance Skills-First Hiring in Your Region
Turn Data Into Opportunity: How Regional Leaders Are Using Skills-First Intelligence to Build the Workforce of Tomorrow
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Practicing What We Preach: Virginia’s Approach to Skills-Based
In 2023, Virginia removed degree requirements and preferences for nearly 90% of classified state jobs. Join leaders from Virginia Works and DHRM to discuss what it took to turn that policy into practice.
How To Assess Skills - Member Workshop
This member-only series is designed as an interactive, peer-driven working session — not a webinar. Registration is only open to people working in the public sector.
Resources
Use the filters below to find the resources that are the best fit for your role, sector level, and needs.
How Mississippi moved beyond “any job is a good job” to focus on mobility and accountability.
Developed with public sector partners, Opportunity@Work's Government as Employer Playbook gives government leaders a practical roadmap to adopt skills-based hiring and build government into a model employer that hires for skills.
Developed with state HR leaders, this guide gives senior HR leaders an executive-level roadmap to embed skills across every HR function, from workforce planning to hiring to development.
The STAR Mobility Compass shows that it is possible to make significant improvements to STAR mobility and strengthen hiring pipelines by prioritizing skills in hiring, compensation, and job design.
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Build pathways for STARs in the public sector through public sector apprenticeships
Registered apprenticeships can help public-sector employers recruit and retain a skilled workforce that reflects the communities they serve
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Insight on STARs as critical contributors to the public sector workforce
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Previously recorded webinar (April 18, 2024) — Learn from leading practioners from NJ, MA, and CA on implementing skills-based hiring practices
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Interactive data tool for exploring your local labor market with a STARs lens
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Step-by-step guide for using the Activating Untapped Talent in Your Region Template
This customizable presentation template gives workforce and government leaders a ready-made framework for building a compelling, data-driven narrative around hiring workers Skilled Through Alternative Routes (STARs) — people who developed their skills through community college, apprenticeships, bootcamps, or on-the-job experience rather than a four-year degree.
Tearing the Paper Ceiling: How State Actions Expand Opportunities for STARs
Learnings from the City of Philadelphia’s City College of Municipal Employment.
Learnings from a decade-long talent transformation at Louisiana's State Civil Service.
A statewide initiative reimagines talent practices to build a more inclusive, future-ready workforce.
A statewide policy shift removed degree requirements and expanded opportunity for workers across Maryland.
A data-driven review opens new pathways into state government roles for STARs.
Insights on STAR skills and mobility opportunities in a transitioning economy.
A policy case study on how Opportunity@Work helped Chicago eliminate unnecessary degree requirements and unlock opportunity for nearly 2 million STARs.
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How Los Angeles County’s Internal Services Department partnered with Per Scholas to launch a registered cybersecurity apprenticeship program.
How Hennepin County expanded access to public service careers by removing unnecessary barriers and building skills-based pathways for local talent.
How Virginia Works + Virginia’s Department of Human Resource Management partnered to scale skills-based talent practices across state government.
The following paper from Cicero Institutr proposes a skills-based hiring reform for public jobs
Executive order template to remove unnecessary degree requirements
State legislation template to remove unnecessary degree requirements
A fact sheet from Cicero Action that provides a snapshot of Maryland's workforce
A fact sheet from Cicero Action that provides a snapshot of Utah's workforce
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Previously recorded webinar (February 25, 2025) — Learn from policy experts about recent federal policy shifts and their impact on STARs and the public sector workforce
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Previously recorded webinar (January 23, 2025) — Valuable insights on the current policy landscape for workforce development and what organizations are working on related to skills-first practices in 2025
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Previously recorded webinar (November 7, 2024) — STARs Public Sector Hub partner The Cicero Institute showcases their recent playbook that outlines how to successfully implement skills-based hiring in the public sector
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Previously recorded webinar (July 18, 2024) — Live demonstration of Opportunity@Work's STARs Data Dashboard
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Previously recorded webinar (September 26, 2024) — Learn about practices used by federal government leaders to implement skills-first hiring and find resources available to advance skills-based hiring in your organization
Development strategies and best practices for federal agencies
The future of workforce training starts here. America Achieves’ Workforce Pell Resource Library equips governors, workforce leaders, educators, and philanthropic partners with the insights, strategies, and resources needed to successfully implement Workforce Pell. From policy guidance to implementation roadmaps, these tools help turn federal opportunity into real outcomes for workers, employers, and communities.
The Good Jobs Initiative’s Skills-First Starter Kit is a short guide on hiring, promotion, and talent management built around worker skills
A state and local guide to high-quality, equitable workforce development from the US Department of Treasury
Learn how SkillUp works with partners throughout the industry
Learnings, milestones, and worker outcomes from SkillUp
The American Connection Corps is the nation’s premier AmeriCorps service experience, advancing economic prosperity in rural and emerging communities
Learn more about adding critical capacity to your organization by bringing top talent back home to serve
Learn more about American Connection Corps' impact in 2023
Learn more about American Connection Corps' state partnerships
Recommendations for reforms to ensure the federal government is leading on skills-based hiring
Policy priorities to equip workers with the new skills they need to get ahead in a new economy
Breakdown of Workforce Pell Act and A Stronger Workforce for America Act
Build and leverage relationships between rural employers for a stronger workforce.
Six states’ work on the key elements for implementing outcomes-driven strategies and funding
How can community stakeholders use human-centered design principles to create meaningful and real job opportunities for the most vulnerable people in their communities?
A publication from The Volcker Alliance explores the skills most needed for the next generation of public servants
National demographic and occupational data on low-wage workers
Key takeaways about the barriers to scaling earn-and-learn opportunities
What are the trends in digital innovations in skills and employment pathways, and why should we care?
Examples of how state and local governments are using American Rescue Plan's fiscal recovery funds to support climate-oriented corps programs
State actions to value skills from outside the classroom
Learn how large cities and counties are deploying ARPA funds
Analysis of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act accompanied by a set of action items to guide planning and strategy development
Research from the Brookings Metro provides a practical overview of the numerous but under-discussed and sometimes indistinct workforce programs included in the CHIPS and Science Act