Tear
the Paper Ceiling

Workers with experience, skills, and diverse perspectives – held back by a silent limitation.

It’s time to tear the paper ceiling and see the world beyond it.

I pledge to shatter stereotypes and misconceptions and to see people for all of their experiences, skills, and diverse perspectives.

I pledge to recognize the untapped potential of the 70+ million American workers who are STARs – Skilled Through Alternative Routes – so they can flourish.

I pledge to tear the paper ceiling, to see the world beyond it, and to let STARs shine.

Sign the pledge to tear the paper ceiling

Let’s send a clear message that it’s time to tear the
paper ceiling.

Thanks for signing the pledge.

You’ve taken the first step in tearing the paper ceiling. Stay tuned for important updates, information and stories related to the campaign.

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Get Skills-First Data at your Fingertips

with Lightcast’s “STARs Relevant” Filter

See skilled workers you might be overlooking

Lightcast's new STARs Relevant filter uses insights from Opportunity@Work to help hiring decision makers see the full picture: which roles make sense for workers with skills developed through on-the-job experience, community college, and military service — not just bachelor's degrees.

Filter in seconds
Toggle the STARs-Relevant filter the same way you filter by geography, salary, or industry — and watch every output update instantly.

See skills-first possibilities
Identify where you can expand your talent pool by seeing which roles can be designed and filled without unnecessary degree screens – backed by real labor market data.

Benchmark with confidence
Replace guesswork with defensible, market-level insight that makes skills-first hiring a competitive differentiator, not just a values statement.

What the “STARs Relevant” Filter Shows

This isn't a simple non-degree filter. A role earns the STARs Relevant designation only when it clears three research-backed bars simultaneously:

1. It leads somewhere.
The role falls within Opportunity@Work's proven mobility framework — occupations with real evidence that workers can advance economically, not just enter.

2. It pays a living wage.
The occupation's median hourly wage meets at least two-thirds of the national median, a threshold recognized by Pew Research and Brookings as a standard marker of labor market stability.

3. STARs are already succeeding in it.
At least 10% of people currently working in the role are STARs, and the posting doesn't require a four-year degree. That offers proof that STARs can do the job, drawn from U.S. Census data and updated annually.

Get access to the STARs Relevant filter today.