About
Opportunity@Work is a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit working to rewire the U.S. labor market so that STARs — workers Skilled Through Alternative Routes — can regain upward mobility. More than 70 million Americans have developed valuable skills through community college, workforce training, military service, and on-the-job experience rather than a bachelor's degree, and Opportunity@Work advocates for skills-first hiring practices that make their talents visible to employers.
Mission
Opportunity@Work's mission is to rewire the U.S. labor market so STARs can work, learn, and earn to their full potential. The organization challenges the assumption that no degree means no skills, and its decade-long goal is to enable 1 million STARs to move into higher-wage work through 10 million job openings, increasing STARs' collective earnings by more than 100 billion dollars.
What they do
- Research on STARs and the labor market, including the State of the Paper Ceiling report and the STAR Mobility Compass, a research-backed roadmap to greater opportunity for STARs
- Tear the Paper Ceiling, a national public awareness campaign about degree screens that block skilled workers
- STARs Insights on Lightcast, labor market data tools that help employers make skills-first hiring decisions
- The STARs Public Sector Hub, resources for federal, state, and local government leaders adopting skills-based talent practices, with a goal of opening more than 1.5 million public sector opportunities for STARs by 2030
- Policy design and advocacy for a skills-based labor market, a Regional Leadership Exchange for workforce leaders, and case studies of employers creating pathways for STARs
History
Opportunity@Work was launched in 2015 at the White House through TechHire, an initiative connecting overlooked communities to tech opportunities, and became an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 2016. It has since evolved from a specialized program into a national skills-first movement spanning business, government, and technology partnerships.
Governance
The organization is led by co-founder and CEO Byron Auguste. Other executives include Chief Operating Officer Leticia Richard and Chief Financial Officer Yinnie Tse, alongside senior vice presidents overseeing policy, strategy, and engagement.
Financials
Opportunity At Work Inc is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 81-3214432) whose federal tax exemption was issued in October 2016. According to ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, for fiscal year 2024 it reported total revenue of 30,403,951 dollars, total expenses of 20,664,720 dollars, and net assets of 33,689,217 dollars, with contributions accounting for 97 percent of revenue.