Opportunity@Work

Today, with @AdCouncil and nearly 50 leading organizations, we’re delighted to announce the launch of #TearThePaperCeiling, a national campaign that aims to shatter the myth that no degree means no skill. Visit TearThePaperCeiling.org to join the movement. #HireSTARs

Every thriving regional economy has one thing in common: it invests in the workers already there. Look to the STARs: Activating Talent in a Regional Market shows how regions can change that. Download the research → #form" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">opportunityatwork.org/topics/reports… #HireSTARs #TearThePaperCeiling

Tomorrow: Join us for a conversation on the future of skills-based hiring in the #publicsector. You’ll walk away with: • Direct insight from policymakers • A snapshot of key policy trends • What to watch in 2026 Register: events.zoom.us/ev/Aq8EWiJkziZ… #HireSTARs #SkillsFirst

Today’s spotlight is on George. Through hands-on experience and determination, she built skills that helped her grow into new opportunities, demonstrating the leadership and problem-solving many STARs develop on the job. opportunityatwork.org/star-stories #HireSTARs #TearThePaperCeiling

@LACountyISD and #TearThePaperCeiling coalition partner @PerScholas partnered to build a cybersecurity apprenticeship that expands access to tech careers while strengthening the public-sector workforce. Read the case study: opportunityatwork.org/impact/case-st… #HireSTARs #PublicSector

New Episode: The Human Skills AI Can’t Replace If you care about building a skills-first future that works for everyone, this conversation is for you. 🎧 Listen now: pages.opportunityatwork.org/paperless-path… #TearThePaperCeiling #SkillsFirst #HireSTARs #FutureOfWork

A new @smartcitiesdive article by Opportunity@Work’s own Blair Corcoran de Castillo and @UKGInc's Bob Lavigna makes a clear case: Skills-first hiring isn’t just equitable, it improves performance. Read the full piece in Smart Cities Dive: smartcitiesdive.com/news/local-gov… #SkillsFirst

Tomorrow, February 26th at 11 am ET: Join workforce leaders for a focused conversation on STARsCoach, a research-backed AI career coach on Tear The Paper Ceiling. Register here: lnkd.in/ej77meRy #hireSTARs #SkillsFirst @CareerVillage

Join workforce experts for a conversation on how AI-enabled career navigation can help STARs translate their experience into new opportunities and navigate job transitions with confidence. Register here: lnkd.in/ej77meRy #TearThePaperCeiling #SkillsFirst

Employers cannot find the qualified talent they need to meet emerging market needs without taking account of Black STARs (workers Skilled Through Alternative Routes). See how you can build promising pathways for Black STARs: opportunityatwork.org/our-solutions/… #BlackHistoryMonth

Join Opportunity@Work and @MyCareerCircle on February 17 at 1 PM ET for a live webinar exploring the technical, human, and AI-powered skills shaping the future of work—and how you can start building them now. 👉 Register here: zoom.us/webinar/regist… #TearThePaperCeiling

This year’s cohort reflects growing bipartisan momentum to strengthen public sector workforces and expand access to opportunity for STARs (workers Skilled Through Alternative Routes). Learn more about Opportunity@Work’s work in the public sector: lnkd.in/emhmcPKQ (2/2)

Announcing the 2026 Transformers in the Public Sector cohort! 👇 15 state and local governments are joining the fight to tear down degree barriers. Read the press release: lnkd.in/eBfM68JU #HireSTARs #PublicSector (1/2)

Today, 62% of Black workers are STARs, skilled through alternative routes, not just degrees. Recognizing that talent is essential to a labor market that works for everyone. Explore our data on Black STARs: opportunityatwork.org/our-solutions/… #BlackHistoryMonth #HireSTARs #SkillsFirst

#TearThePaperCeiling partner @Indeed is proving the future of hiring is skills-first. Read the full case study to see how this partnership is making skills-first hiring the norm, not the exception. 👇 opportunityatwork.org/impact/case-st… #HireSTARs #SkillsFirst

We’re delighted to share that we're serving on the Steering Committee for the AI for Career Development Coalition! We’re honored to be part of this effort and to help chart a responsible path forward. Read the report here: aicdcoalition.org #TearThePaperCeiling

Take a read of this World Economic Forum article by Opportunity@Work partner, @Trane_Tech. Together, we’re helping build a sustainable workforce that meets the needs of the energy landscape while opening doors to economic mobility. weforum.org/stories/2026/0…

Today, we honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a leader who fought to create an America where dignity, opportunity, and justice can be shared by all. #MLK #HireSTARs #SkillsFirst

STARs (Skilled Through Alternative Routes) are proving they’re essential to the future of technology. And in the kickoff to Season 2 of the #PaperlessPathways Podcast, we’re breaking down exactly how. 🎧 Listen now: pages.opportunityatwork.org/paperless-path… #TearThePaperCeiling #HireSTARs #AI

Shout out to Jalencia Wade, senior policy manager at Opportunity@Work, for an inspiring and eye-opening session at NCSL Base Camp 2025: “When You’ve Got the Skills But Still Can’t Get Hired.” Full article from NCSL → ncsl.org/state-legislat… #HireSTARs #SkillsFirst

Happening today! Today’s free AI for Job Search workshop with Tear The Paper Ceiling partner General Assembly is built exactly for STARs. 🗓 Today ⏰ 1–2 PM ET (Online) Register today: generalassemb.ly/education/ai-f… #TearThePaperCeiling #HireSTARs #SkillsFirst #AI #TechJobs