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

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Navigating with the STARs: Reimagining Equitable Pathways to Mobility

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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:

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Research

Paper

The Impact of State Actions: States Move the Needle on Skills-Based Hiring

States Move the Needle on Skills-Based Hiring

Research

Barriers and Breakthroughs: Framework to Improve STAR Economic Mobility

The STAR Barriers and Breakthroughs Framework identifies six key contributors to STAR economic mobility and the many interventions and investments that can support a STAR’s career progression.

Research

Look to the STARs: Activating Talent in a Regional Market

Employers can find the talent they need, transform their local and regional labor markets, and boost STAR mobility by embracing a collective approach to skills-based job pathways.

Research

Paper

Occupational Segregation: Confronting the Labor Market’s Racial Divide

Black and white workers with similar levels of education are concentrated in different jobs with negative impacts on wages and mobility.

Research

The Changing Face of Apprenticeships: New Opportunities for Employers and STARs

Research from Lightcast and Opportunity@Work shows how apprenticeships are on the rise as a solution to tear the paper ceiling separating employers and the talent they need.

Research

STARs in the Workplace: How a Gap in Talent Development Hurts Employers and STARs

Workers Skilled Through Alternative Routes (STARs) other than a bachelor’s degree demonstrate valuable skills on the job, but the vast majority don’t get the opportunities to develop their full potential. Why not?

Research

Rise with the STARs: Building a stronger labor market for STARs, communities, and employers

Our report, Rise with the STARs: Building a Stronger Labor Market for STARs, Communities, and Employers, shows the impact of degree discrimination on employers and STARs and identifies a better path forward for everyone.

Research

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

There is a vast overlooked talent pool of 70+ million workers who are Skilled Through Alternative Routes (STARs). These are workers who have a high school diploma or equivalent and do not have a four-year college degree but do have the skills to perform higher-wage work today.

Research

Navigating with the STARs: Reimagining Equitable Pathways to Mobility

The COVID-19 crisis lays bare the deficiencies in our labor market. STARs comprise two thirds of our essential workforce and yet they continue to experience the decades-long trends in wage decline and limited upward mobility. We must reimagine our approach to our workforce to achieve an equitable recovery.

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