Research Gallery

This report reveals the severe impact of employers excluding the talent pool of workers who are Skilled Through Alternative Routes instead of a bachelor’s degree

More than 70 million workers are Skilled Through Alternative Routes (STARs). Many STARs have the skills today to perform higher-wage work. 

STARs comprise the majority of our essential workforce, but they continue to experience wage decline and limited upward mobility. Promising job pathways can bridge this opportunity gap.

This report shows the limited career opportunities experienced by Black STARs and points to pathways for mobility.

Two-thirds of essential workers are “Skilled Through Alternative Routes.” As we work to recover, the rich, untapped talent pool of STARs’ skills is critical — and essential.

Hispanics represent nearly one in five workers in the workforce. Expanding opportunities will increase economic mobility for Hispanic workers as it sets companies up for success.