From Silos to Systems: Building the Skills Ecosystem America Needs

<div class="header alignfull header--article has-background has-tonal-black-background-color"> <div class="header__layout"> <div class="header__content"> <div class="header__metadata"><div class="header__metas"><div class="header__meta header__meta--taxonomy header__meta--tax-category"> Publications</div></div></div> <h1 class="header__title">Archives</h1> <div class="header__metadata"><div class="header__metas"><div class="favorite-block"> <button class="favorite" data-id="207604" data-state="" title="Favorites are not currently available" disabled><span class="favorite__on">Unfavorite</span><span class="favorite__off">Favorite</span><svg class="svg svg--svg-assets-svg-icon-bookmark" role="img" height="15" width="11"><use xlink:href="#svg-assets-svg-icon-bookmark" /></svg></button></div> <div class="header__meta header__meta--date"> May 21, 2026</div> <div class="header__meta header__meta--taxonomy header__meta--tax-program_tax"> UpSkill America, and Economic Opportunities Program</div></div></div> </div> </div> <figure class="header__media" role="presentation"> </figure> </div> <div class="wp-block-group alignfull is-style-contour-lines is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--medium);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--medium)"> <p class="has-medium-variant">By UpSkill America and Alvarez &amp; Marsal</p> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/> <p class="">Over the last two decades, a wave of investment from philanthropy, government, and the private sector has produced a growing set of tools intended to help people demonstrate what they know, employers understand who they&#8217;re hiring, and educators understand whether their programs are preparing people for real opportunities. Digital credentials, learning records, competency frameworks, talent marketplaces: the tools exist, and in isolated pockets, they work.</p> <p class="">The problem is that these tools don&#8217;t work together. Skills data created in one system can&#8217;t be read by another. Credentials issued by one institution aren&#8217;t recognized by the next. Employers who want to hire based on skills don&#8217;t have the infrastructure to do it consistently. Workers and learners who move between jobs, programs, or states find that their records don&#8217;t follow them, leaving them to start over repeatedly, regardless of the skills they&#8217;ve already demonstrated. As an example, up until very recently, medical records couldn’t follow patients between health care providers. The information and data exist, but systems weren’t built to talk to each other, creating real problems when that data needed to be used.</p> <p class="">This fragmentation isn&#8217;t an accident. It&#8217;s the predictable result of building tools without shared infrastructure, including the common data standards, shared rules, and coordination mechanisms that would allow the pieces to function as a system. Individual tools can help individual people in specific circumstances, but unlocking the full potential of skills-based hiring, credentialing, and talent development requires something the field has not yet built: an ecosystem where data flows as freely as people do, and where every actor, including workers, employers, educators, and governments, can both contribute to and benefit from what the system produces.</p> <p class="">Over the last six months, <a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/programs/upskill-america/" type="program" id="1854">UpSkill America</a>, in partnership with <a href="https://www.alvarezandmarsal.com/">Alvarez &amp; Marsal</a>, conducted interviews with more than 40 stakeholders across the ecosystem, representing employers, technology, higher education, and the public sector, to understand where the infrastructure to make these tools work together exists and where it doesn’t, and to identify opportunities to move the field forward through collaboration. This piece describes what we learned and offers a shared vision for moving forward collectively, eliminating silos and advancing a skills ecosystem where everyone benefits.</p> <div class="wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-a89b3969 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex"> <div class="wp-block-button"><a class="wp-block-button__link wp-element-button" href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/From-Silos-to-Systems-Building-the-Skills-Ecosystem-America-Needs.pdf">Download Publication (PDF)<span class="wp-block-button__effect"></span></a></div> </div> <div data-wp-interactive="core/file" class="wp-block-file"><object data-wp-bind--hidden="!state.hasPdfPreview" hidden class="wp-block-file__embed" data="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/From-Silos-to-Systems-Building-the-Skills-Ecosystem-America-Needs.pdf" type="application/pdf" style="width:100%;height:600px" aria-label="Embed of From 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id="h-about-upskill-america-0">About UpSkill America</h2> <p class=""><a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/programs/upskill-america/">UpSkill America</a>, an initiative of the <a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/programs/economic-opportunities-program/">Economic Opportunities Program</a>, supports employers and workforce organizations to expand and improve high-quality educational and career advancement opportunities for America’s front-line workers.</p> </div> <div class="wp-block-group alignfull has-primary-light-background-color has-background is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--medium);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--medium)"> <h2 class="wp-block-heading has-h4-variant" id="h-about-the-economic-opportunities-program">About the Economic Opportunities Program</h2> <p class="">The Aspen Institute <a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/programs/economic-opportunities-program/">Economic Opportunities Program</a> advances strategies, policies, and ideas to help low- and moderate-income people thrive in a changing economy.</p> </div> <div class="wp-block-group alignfull has-primary-background-color has-background is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained" style="padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--medium);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--medium)"> <div class="wp-block-group alignwide is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained"> <h2 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-left has-h4-variant" id="h-join-our-mailing-list">Join Our Mailing List</h2> <p class="">To receive occasional emails about our work — including new publications, commentary, events, fellowships, and more — join our mailing list.</p> <div class="wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-a89b3969 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href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/publications/from-silos-to-systems-building-the-skills-ecosystem-america-needs/" tabindex="-1"> <img decoding="async" width="1500" height="1050" src="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/GettyImages-1371484525-1500x1050.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large" alt="From Silos to Systems: Building the Skills Ecosystem America Needs" style="object-position: 50% 50%" /> </a> </figure> <div class="dyn-card__label"> <span class="has-meta-variant">Publications</span> </div> </div> <div class="dyn-card__content"> <h2 class="dyn-card__title has-h5-variant"><a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/publications/from-silos-to-systems-building-the-skills-ecosystem-america-needs/">From Silos to Systems: Building the Skills Ecosystem America Needs</a></h2><p class="dyn-card__meta dyn-card__date"><button class="favorite" data-id="207604" data-state="" title="Favorites are not currently available" disabled><span class="favorite__on">Unfavorite</span><span class="favorite__off">Favorite</span><svg class="svg svg--svg-assets-svg-icon-bookmark" role="img" focusable="false" height="15" width="11"><use xlink:href="#svg-assets-svg-icon-bookmark"/></svg></button><time>May 21, 2026</time></p><ul class="dyn-card__meta dyn-card__people"><li class="dyn-card__person"><a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/people/haley-glover/">Haley Glover</a></li></ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="dyn-card"> <div class="dyn-card__wrap"> <div class="dyn-card__media"> <figure class="dyn-card__image"> <a class="dyn-card__image-link" href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/publications/upskilling-playbook-getting-started-with-apprenticeship/" tabindex="-1"> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1000" height="1500" src="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/GettyImages-1211968180-1000x1500.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large" alt="Upskilling Playbook: Getting Started with Apprenticeship" style="object-position:28% 35%" /> </a> </figure> <div class="dyn-card__label"> <span class="has-meta-variant">Publications</span> </div> </div> <div class="dyn-card__content"> <h2 class="dyn-card__title has-h5-variant"><a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/publications/upskilling-playbook-getting-started-with-apprenticeship/">Upskilling Playbook: Getting Started with Apprenticeship</a></h2><div class="dyn-card__excerpt">This chapter walks organizations through the key decisions and steps required to launch a successful apprenticeship program.</div><p class="dyn-card__meta dyn-card__date"><button class="favorite" data-id="199381" data-state="" title="Favorites are not currently available" disabled><span class="favorite__on">Unfavorite</span><span class="favorite__off">Favorite</span><svg class="svg svg--svg-assets-svg-icon-bookmark" role="img" focusable="false" height="15" width="11"><use xlink:href="#svg-assets-svg-icon-bookmark"/></svg></button><time>April 30, 2026</time></p><ul class="dyn-card__meta dyn-card__people"><li class="dyn-card__person"><a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/people/annelies-goger/">Annelies Goger</a></li></ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="dyn-card"> <div class="dyn-card__wrap"> <div class="dyn-card__media"> <figure class="dyn-card__image"> <a class="dyn-card__image-link" href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/publications/final-lessons-insights-from-the-2025-workforce-leadership-academies/" tabindex="-1"> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1001" height="1500" src="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/GettyImages-914896894-1001x1500.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large" alt="Final Lessons: Insights from the 2025 Workforce Leadership Academies" style="object-position:56% 75%" /> </a> </figure> <div class="dyn-card__label"> <span class="has-meta-variant">Publications</span> </div> </div> <div class="dyn-card__content"> <h2 class="dyn-card__title has-h5-variant"><a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/publications/final-lessons-insights-from-the-2025-workforce-leadership-academies/">Final Lessons: Insights from the 2025 Workforce Leadership Academies</a></h2><div class="dyn-card__excerpt">This report captures the growth and reflections of the teams in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and the Greater Triangle, North Carolina, after their 12-month journey, including their final reflections on strategic leadership, grounded in the lessons learned in the pursuit of building a more equitable and resilient economy.</div><p class="dyn-card__meta dyn-card__date"><button class="favorite" data-id="175488" data-state="" title="Favorites are not currently available" disabled><span class="favorite__on">Unfavorite</span><span class="favorite__off">Favorite</span><svg class="svg svg--svg-assets-svg-icon-bookmark" role="img" focusable="false" height="15" width="11"><use xlink:href="#svg-assets-svg-icon-bookmark"/></svg></button><time>April 13, 2026</time></p><ul class="dyn-card__meta dyn-card__people"><li class="dyn-card__person"><a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/people/haley-glover/">Haley Glover</a></li></ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="dyn-card"> <div class="dyn-card__wrap"> <div class="dyn-card__media"> <figure class="dyn-card__image"> <a class="dyn-card__image-link" href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/publications/what-we-learned-a-conversation-on-employer-led-upskilling-for-small-and-medium-sized-businesses/" tabindex="-1"> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1000" height="1500" src="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/GettyImages-1425898863-1000x1500.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large" alt="What We Learned: A Conversation on Employer-Led Upskilling for Small and Medium-Sized Businesses" style="object-position:26% 46%" /> </a> </figure> <div class="dyn-card__label"> <span class="has-meta-variant">Publications</span> </div> </div> <div class="dyn-card__content"> <h2 class="dyn-card__title has-h5-variant"><a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/publications/what-we-learned-a-conversation-on-employer-led-upskilling-for-small-and-medium-sized-businesses/">What We Learned: A Conversation on Employer-Led Upskilling for Small and Medium-Sized Businesses</a></h2><div class="dyn-card__excerpt">This piece summarizes the foundational insights gathered by UpSkill America through years of research into how small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) can effectively implement talent development.</div><p class="dyn-card__meta dyn-card__date"><button class="favorite" data-id="174246" data-state="" title="Favorites are not currently available" disabled><span class="favorite__on">Unfavorite</span><span class="favorite__off">Favorite</span><svg class="svg svg--svg-assets-svg-icon-bookmark" role="img" focusable="false" height="15" width="11"><use xlink:href="#svg-assets-svg-icon-bookmark"/></svg></button><time>April 10, 2026</time></p><ul class="dyn-card__meta dyn-card__people"><li class="dyn-card__person"><a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/people/chelsea-miller/">Chelsea Miller</a></li><li class="dyn-card__person"><a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/people/haley-glover/">Haley Glover</a></li></ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="dyn-card"> <div class="dyn-card__wrap"> <div class="dyn-card__media"> <figure class="dyn-card__image"> <a class="dyn-card__image-link" href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/publications/de-risking-the-future-how-small-businesses-can-leverage-outcomes-based-financing-to-build-resilient-talent-pipelines/" tabindex="-1"> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1247" height="1500" src="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/GettyImages-2156157893-1247x1500.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large" alt="De-Risking the Future: How Small Businesses Can Leverage Outcomes-Based Financing to Build Resilient Talent Pipelines" style="object-position:49% 8%" /> </a> </figure> <div class="dyn-card__label"> <span class="has-meta-variant">Publications</span> </div> </div> <div class="dyn-card__content"> <h2 class="dyn-card__title has-h5-variant"><a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/publications/de-risking-the-future-how-small-businesses-can-leverage-outcomes-based-financing-to-build-resilient-talent-pipelines/">De-Risking the Future: How Small Businesses Can Leverage Outcomes-Based Financing to Build Resilient Talent Pipelines</a></h2><div class="dyn-card__excerpt">For the working adult learner, the path to a better career is often blocked by a wall of “what-ifs.” What if child care falls through? What if the tuition isn’t worth the debt? What if the job market doesn’t deliver after the investment?</div><p class="dyn-card__meta dyn-card__date"><button class="favorite" data-id="170623" data-state="" title="Favorites are not currently available" disabled><span class="favorite__on">Unfavorite</span><span class="favorite__off">Favorite</span><svg class="svg svg--svg-assets-svg-icon-bookmark" role="img" focusable="false" height="15" width="11"><use xlink:href="#svg-assets-svg-icon-bookmark"/></svg></button><time>April 9, 2026</time></p><ul class="dyn-card__meta dyn-card__people"><li class="dyn-card__person"><a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/people/chelsea-miller/">Chelsea Miller</a></li></ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="dyn-card"> <div class="dyn-card__wrap"> <div class="dyn-card__media"> <figure class="dyn-card__image"> <a class="dyn-card__image-link" href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/publications/the-care-catalyst-how-child-care-benefits-make-the-difference-in-retention-for-small-businesses/" tabindex="-1"> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1000" height="1500" src="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/GettyImages-2165389791-1000x1500.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large" alt="The Care Catalyst: How Child Care Benefits Make the Difference in Retention for Small Businesses" style="object-position:58% 44%" /> </a> </figure> <div class="dyn-card__label"> <span class="has-meta-variant">Publications</span> </div> </div> <div class="dyn-card__content"> <h2 class="dyn-card__title has-h5-variant"><a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/publications/the-care-catalyst-how-child-care-benefits-make-the-difference-in-retention-for-small-businesses/">The Care Catalyst: How Child Care Benefits Make the Difference in Retention for Small Businesses</a></h2><div class="dyn-card__excerpt">This brief explores how Arkansas is leveraging strategic investments in child care benefits to stabilize employees, strengthening small businesses and communities across the state by highlighting the work of Excel by Eight and two small businesses.</div><p class="dyn-card__meta dyn-card__date"><button class="favorite" data-id="170785" data-state="" title="Favorites are not currently available" disabled><span class="favorite__on">Unfavorite</span><span class="favorite__off">Favorite</span><svg class="svg svg--svg-assets-svg-icon-bookmark" role="img" focusable="false" height="15" width="11"><use xlink:href="#svg-assets-svg-icon-bookmark"/></svg></button><time>April 8, 2026</time></p><ul class="dyn-card__meta dyn-card__people"><li class="dyn-card__person"><a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/people/chelsea-miller/">Chelsea Miller</a></li></ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="dyn-card"> <div class="dyn-card__wrap"> <div class="dyn-card__media"> <figure class="dyn-card__image"> <a class="dyn-card__image-link" href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/blog-posts/turning-internships-into-strategic-investments-lessons-from-employers/" tabindex="-1"> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1280" height="720" src="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Featured-Image-EOP-UpSkill-Strada-Blog.png" class="attachment-large size-large" alt="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/blog-posts/turning-internships-into-strategic-investments-lessons-from-employers" style="object-position: 50% 50%" /> </a> </figure> <div class="dyn-card__label"> <span class="has-meta-variant">Blog Posts</span> </div> </div> <div class="dyn-card__content"> <h2 class="dyn-card__title has-h5-variant"><a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/blog-posts/turning-internships-into-strategic-investments-lessons-from-employers/">Turning Internships Into Strategic Investments: Lessons From Employers</a></h2><div class="dyn-card__excerpt">As this work continues to evolve, we must move beyond polite conversation and into systemic redesign. We cannot solve the problems that lie ahead using the maps of the past. </div><p class="dyn-card__meta dyn-card__date"><button class="favorite" data-id="174864" data-state="" title="Favorites are not currently available" disabled><span class="favorite__on">Unfavorite</span><span class="favorite__off">Favorite</span><svg class="svg svg--svg-assets-svg-icon-bookmark" role="img" focusable="false" height="15" width="11"><use xlink:href="#svg-assets-svg-icon-bookmark"/></svg></button><time>March 26, 2026</time></p><ul class="dyn-card__meta dyn-card__people"><li class="dyn-card__person"><a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/people/haley-glover/">Haley Glover</a></li></ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="dyn-card"> <div class="dyn-card__wrap"> <div class="dyn-card__media"> <figure class="dyn-card__image"> <a class="dyn-card__image-link" href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/blog-posts/apprenticeships-and-internships-are-not-the-same/" tabindex="-1"> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1500" height="1001" src="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/GettyImages-1400338299-1500x1001.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large" alt="Apprenticeships and Internships Are Not the Same" style="object-position: 50% 50%" /> </a> </figure> <div class="dyn-card__label"> <span class="has-meta-variant">Blog Posts</span> </div> </div> <div class="dyn-card__content"> <h2 class="dyn-card__title has-h5-variant"><a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/blog-posts/apprenticeships-and-internships-are-not-the-same/">Apprenticeships and Internships Are Not the Same</a></h2><div class="dyn-card__excerpt">As this work continues to evolve, we must move beyond polite conversation and into systemic redesign. We cannot solve the problems that lie ahead using the maps of the past. </div><p class="dyn-card__meta dyn-card__date"><button class="favorite" data-id="173495" data-state="" title="Favorites are not currently available" disabled><span class="favorite__on">Unfavorite</span><span class="favorite__off">Favorite</span><svg class="svg svg--svg-assets-svg-icon-bookmark" role="img" focusable="false" height="15" width="11"><use xlink:href="#svg-assets-svg-icon-bookmark"/></svg></button><time>March 24, 2026</time></p><ul class="dyn-card__meta dyn-card__people"><li class="dyn-card__person"><a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/people/annelies-goger/">Annelies Goger</a></li></ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained"> <h2 class="wp-block-heading has-h4-variant" id="h-about-this-post">About This Post</h2> <div class="wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained"> <h3 class="wp-block-heading has-kicker-variant" id="h-people-authors">People/Authors</h3> <div class="post-taxonomies"> <div class="post-taxonomies__layout"> <ul class="post-taxonomy"><li class="post-taxonomy__term"><a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/people/haley-glover/">Haley Glover</a></li></ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained"> <h3 class="wp-block-heading has-kicker-variant" id="h-series">Series</h3> <div class="post-taxonomies"> <div class="post-taxonomies__layout"> </div> </div> </div> <div class="wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained"> <h3 class="wp-block-heading has-kicker-variant" id="h-programs">Programs</h3> <div class="post-taxonomies"> <div class="post-taxonomies__layout"> <ul class="post-taxonomy"><li class="post-taxonomy__term"><a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/programs/upskill-america/">UpSkill America</a></li><li class="post-taxonomy__term"><a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/programs/economic-opportunities-program/">Economic Opportunities Program</a></li></ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained"> <h3 class="wp-block-heading has-kicker-variant" id="h-tags">Tags</h3> <div class="post-taxonomies"> <div class="post-taxonomies__layout"> <ul class="post-taxonomy"><li class="post-taxonomy__term"><a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/tag/upskilling/">Upskilling</a></li><li class="post-taxonomy__term"><a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/tag/upskilling-resources/">Upskilling resources</a></li></ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained"> <h3 class="wp-block-heading has-kicker-variant" id="h-topics">Topics</h3> <div class="post-taxonomies"> <div class="post-taxonomies__layout"> <ul class="post-taxonomy"><li class="post-taxonomy__term"><a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/topic/economic-opportunity/">Economic Opportunity</a></li></ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained"> <h3 class="wp-block-heading has-kicker-variant" id="h-impact-areas">Impact Areas</h3> <div class="post-taxonomies"> <div class="post-taxonomies__layout"> <ul class="post-taxonomy"><li class="post-taxonomy__term"><a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/impact-area/economic-opportunity/">Economic Opportunity</a></li></ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained"> <h3 class="wp-block-heading has-kicker-variant" id="h-content-categories">Content Categories</h3> <div class="post-taxonomies"> <div class="post-taxonomies__layout"> <ul class="post-taxonomy"><li class="post-taxonomy__term"><a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/category/publications/">Publications</a></li></ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> <p>The post <a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/publications/from-silos-to-systems-building-the-skills-ecosystem-america-needs/">From Silos to Systems: Building the Skills Ecosystem America Needs</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org">Aspen Institute</a>.</p>