Aspen is a place for leaders to lift their sights above the possessions which possess them. To confront their own nature as human beings, to regain control over their own humanity by becoming more self-aware, more self-correcting, and hence more self-fulfilling.
Walter P. Paepcke, Aspen Institute Co-Founder
Aspen Institute
Publications
Raise the Floor and Build Ladders: Workforce Strategies Supporting Mobility and Stability
Raise the Floor and Build Ladders: Workforce Strategies Supporting Mobility and Stability, originally published by the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program and PHI in April 2014, argues for rebalancing workforce development strategies to improve the lives of low-wage workers. The brief aims to encourage interventions that not only build ladders, or help low-wage workers climb out of poor-quality jobs into better jobs. Such interventions should also raise the floor, or help make workers’ current jobs better. Raise the Floor and Build Ladders calls for the workforce development field to explore and support workforce interventions that encourage career mobility and help ensure basic economic stability.
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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The Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program advances strategies, policies, and ideas to help low- and moderate-income people thrive in a changing economy. We hope you’ll join us at one of our upcoming events, which you can learn about below.
When commentators and policymakers talk about economic opportunity, they often point to the manufacturing sector as an area of promise — one where workers without four-year degrees can enjoy stable, middle-class jobs with good benefits and a secure retirement. At
