Our Research

Insight and strategies to build an inclusive and sustainable workforce by recognizing the skills and potential of STARs

Barriers and Breakthroughs: Framework to Improve STAR Economic Mobility

Reach for the STARs: Realizing the Potential of America’s Hidden Talent Pool

‍

Navigating with the STARs: Reimagining Equitable Pathways to Mobility

‍

Our data on STARs changed the national conversation around workforce.

Opportunity@Work’s analytical and research capabilities inform the nation’s understanding of STARs' potential in the labor market and uncover insights that show how to make positive economic change within regions and industries, and within groups of STARs.

Our research has been featured in:

Thank you! Your submission has been received!

Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Article

The Gateway Jobs That Can Open Opportunity For Workers Skilled Through Alternative Routes

Opportunity@Work discusses the value of certain occupations that have the potential to put STAR (Skilled Through Alternative Routes) workers, currently in low-wage roles, onto a higher-wage career path.

Paper

Skills, Degrees and Labor Market Inequality

Rather than being unskilled, we argue that these workers are STARs because they are skilled through alternative routes—namely their work experience.

Article

There is no such thing as a low-skilled worker

Changing the way we think about low-wage work can help give people more economic mobility.

Article

As many as 30 million workers without college degrees have the skills to earn 70% more, report finds

Often, the report claims, employer education requirements hold workers back.

Blogs

Employers Can Write the Next Chapter In Black History By Extending Opportunity To Black STARs

Our research shows that Black STARs have limited pathways to higher-wage work compared to their white counterparts.

Blogs

Two Job Families Could Hold the Key to Expanding Pathways for Black STARs

A report from Human Resources consulting company Mercer found that across industries in the U.S., Black workers are underrepresented at every career level above support staff when compared to their representation in the general population.

Article

There Are 6 Million Black Workers Missing From Your Talent Pool

In addition to the 5.3 million Black workers with college degrees, Opportunity@Work has identified 10 million Black workers who are Skilled Through Alternative Routes, such as associate degrees, credential training programs, on-the-job learning, and self-guided learning at the kitchen table.

Article

IBM, Merck and OneTen launch network to recruit and promote Black workers over the next decade

IBM, Merck and OneTen created a network that will help hire and promote 1 million Black workers into higher paying jobs.

Video

About 60 million jobs have been deemed essential during the COVID-19 crisis

Two-thirds of essential workers are STARs. This data story demonstrates their contributions to COVID-19 response and the disparate impacts of the pandemic on women and people of color.

Activating a collaborative community of researchers

We conduct our own research, but that’s only the beginning. We also seek out and encourage the participation of research partners and collaborators.

Our goal? To inspire others to pursue new research—and question conventional wisdom on our workers, talent management practices, and workforce development. Over time, the available data and insights will multiply, delivering answers to every question that’s at the heart of economic mobility for STARs.

Our Research Partners

STARs Insights Advisory Panel

Our STARs Insights Initiative Advisory Panel is chaired by Dr. Erica Groshen, former Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and includes advisors with experience in labor economics, workforce development and the future of work across the public, private, and academic sectors.

Erica Groshen

Former Commissioner, Bureau of Labor Statistics

Peter Q. Blair

Assistant Professor, Harvard University

STAR Stories

Read about the barriers, challenges, and possibilities that STARs are seeing today — and why they're hopeful for a brighter future.

Our Research

Our data on STARs changed the national conversation around workforce.

STAR Research Community

Activating a collaborative community of researchers

STARs Insights Advisory Panel

Erica Groshen

Peter Q. Blair

STAR Stories