Publications and Commentary

UpSkill America supports employers and workforce organizations to expand and improve high-quality educational and career advancement opportunities for America’s front-line workers.

UpSkill America, an initiative of the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program, supports employers and workforce organizations to expand and improve high-quality educational and career advancement opportunities for America’s front-line workers.

We seek to create a movement of employers, civic organizations, workforce intermediaries, and policymakers working collaboratively to implement education, training, and development strategies that result in better jobs and opportunities for front-line workers, more competitive businesses, and stronger communities.

Decorative banner featuring the logo of UpSkill America at the Aspen Institute. The background includes a stylized silhouette of two construction workers wearing hard hats and looking at a construction site.
Blog Posts

Refreshing the Playbook: UpSkill America’s Guide to Building Programs with Lasting Impact

UpSkill America is refreshing its playbook to help workers and employers thrive in a rapidly changing world of work.

May 15, 2025

Blog Posts

Navigating Uncertainty: Key Insights on Mitigating Risk and Fostering Alignment from ASU+GSV 2025

The ASU+GSV Summit provided a valuable snapshot of the current state of the skills ecosystem, highlighting both the challenges and the potential for collaboration.

April 16, 2025

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.

April 3, 2025

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.

April 1, 2025

Blog Posts

The AI Upskilling Conundrum: Are We Falling Behind?

The AI-driven transformation of our economy, workplaces, and society isn’t coming — it’s already here. And right now, our people, programs, policies, and workforce training strategies are struggling to keep pace.

March 18, 2025

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.

February 25, 2025

Blog Posts

Leadership, Like a Letter, Takes Time: Why Upskilling Must Be Part of a Human-Centered Strategy

Look at these mailboxes. I walked by them and considered what they represented. People would take the time to write a letter—to consider their words, to connect with someone who mattered, to share something meaningful. And for those receiving, they’d peek through the glass to see if something was there (just perhaps once a day). And, once received, take the time to read, reflect, and absorb. It was deliberate. It required thoughtfulness and patience. It built relationships.

February 21, 2025

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?”

February 18, 2025

Blog Posts

Building Skills for Long Term Growth

Forward-thinking organizations are recognizing that investing in both technical and durable skills is more than an HR strategy—it’s a competitive advantage.

January 23, 2025

Blog Posts

U.S. Workers Are Falling Behind. Can They Catch Up?

At UpSkill America, we are focused on helping employers design and develop education programs that leverage best practices and ensure employees have the support they need to succeed.

January 21, 2025

Blog Posts

AI Education, Digital Credentials, and Verified Skills

We are pleased to share our recent work highlighting the importance of access to AI skills, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to build their knowledge in this burgeoning field.

December 19, 2024

About UpSkill America

UpSkill America, an initiative of the Economic Opportunities Program, supports employers and workforce organizations to expand and improve high-quality educational and career advancement opportunities for America’s front-line 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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