Widening Pathways to Work
A New Vision for Workforce Opportunity
A growing body of evidence demonstrates the significant strengths and capabilities of talent pools that have historically been under engaged or overlooked in the workforce. It also makes clear that a focus on the skills and competencies people have regardless of where they learned them drives workforce opportunity, increases business economic productivity, and improves American competitiveness across the board.
Widening Pathways to Work, in addition to driving a shift towards a skills-first paradigm for all workers and workplaces, is focused on six talent pools that collectively represent over two-thirds of all working age adults in the US today.
Who are we talking about?
161 million
adults without degrees1
70 million
justice-impacted adults2
5 million
opportunity youth3
11 million
older adults4
22 million
adults with disabilities5
9 million
military connected adults4
1 Opportunity@Work; 2 Working Nation; 3 Measure of America; 4 US Bureau of Labor Statistics; 5 American Community Survey
Focus Areas
Skills First Talent
Embracing a skills-first talent management perspective means putting what people know ahead of how they learned it—and it benefits both workers and employers.
Justice Impacted Talent
Engaging second-chance talent means recognizing dedication and loyalty beyond past mistakes—and it unlocks committed, hardworking employees.
Older Workers
Hiring older workers means appreciating experience, wisdom, knowledge, and reliability—and it strengthens organizational knowledge and stability.
People with Disabilities
Hiring and supporting people with disabilities expands access to loyal, high-performing workers and fosters innovation and long-term retention.
Opportunity Youth
Tapping opportunity youth means tapping into fresh energy, creativity, and eagerness to learn—and it fuels innovation and workforce diversity.
The Military Community
A focus on military talent means valuing leadership, resilience, and adaptability developed through service—and it drives strong team performance.
Embrace Future-Forward Talent Management with SHRM Foundation Trainings
SHRM Foundation offers SHRM-backed specialty credentials to equip you to embrace skills-first talent management strategies and source, hire, support, and retain a broad spectrum of untapped talent. Earn up to 46 professional development credits toward your SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP certification by completing all four!
A first-of-its-kind training on how to integrate skills-first talent management strategies from recruitment to retirement.
Cost: $995 member, $1,345 non-member
PDCs: 16
Training that equips you to recruit, retain, and advance military-connected talent through focused workforce strategies.
Cost: $0
PDCs: 10
A fast-paced training that prepares you to build disability-inclusive workplaces through informed hiring, retention, and advancement strategies.
Cost: $0
PDCs: 10
A flexible certificate program that equips you to confidently hire, retain, and support justice-impacted talent through inclusive and informed workplace practices.
Cost: $0
PDCs: 10
Funders and Partners
Funders
Partners
