Lightcast, the global leader in labor market analytics, has partnered with the nonprofit social enterprise Opportunity@Work to integrate a new AI-powered STARs filter into the Lightcast Analyst platform. This feature helps HR and workforce development leaders identify jobs suitable for STARs—workers Skilled Through Alternative Routes—who gain expertise without a bachelor's degree, promoting skills-based hiring and dismantling the "paper ceiling."
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The collaboration addresses the systemic exclusion of STARs, who possess the skills for higher-wage roles but are often blocked by degree requirements and biased screening processes. Opportunity@Work's research demonstrates that millions of these workers are qualified for better opportunities, and this integration brings those insights directly into the Lightcast ecosystem used by major global companies.
By applying the STARs filter, users can easily view and redesign job postings to remove unnecessary degree barriers, broadening access to talent and enabling more inclusive recruitment strategies. This approach aligns with proven benefits of skills-first hiring, including faster talent acquisition, stronger hires, and improved retention.
"It's time for skills-first data to become standard workforce infrastructure," said Papia Debroy, Chief Impact Officer of Opportunity@Work. "For years, we've been raising awareness for STARs – their skills, and their potential and the opportunity employers unlock when they hire for what workers can do. Now, through our partnership with Lightcast, we are translating that awareness to action – embedding skills-first insight directly into the systems that shape hiring decisions. When employers hire for performance rather than pedigree, everyone benefits. Now, we're making that shift possible at scale."
The filter will be available in March within Lightcast Analyst, Talent Analyst, and Developer platforms, functioning similarly to existing filters for location, education, and salary. Additional Lightcast tools, including the Job Postings API and eIMPACT visualizations, will incorporate STARs data to support broader adoption.
"By adding STARs insights directly into Lightcast job market data, we're giving customers a clear, data-driven way to see high-paying roles that can be designed and filled without a four-year degree," said Cara Christopher, CMO of Lightcast. "Over 6.5 million reports were delivered through our Analyst platform last year, and we identified over 17 million new US job postings that require a bachelor's degree. If even a fraction of those jobs go to STARs, we'll have made valuable progress in building a job market that works for everyone."
"When people who have the necessary skills are screened out of the hiring process, it's unfair to the individual and a disadvantage for the employer, because it narrows the view of available talent. A skills-first approach is a practical necessity."
Building on years of collaboration through the Tear the Paper Ceiling coalition and joint research, this partnership marks a key advancement in making skills-based hiring a standard, actionable practice across organizations.
About Lightcast
Lightcast is the global leader in labor market intelligence, empowering smarter decisions for businesses, education institutions, and governments worldwide. With the world's most comprehensive database—spanning over 3 billion job postings, 500 million career profiles, and 100+ government sources—Lightcast delivers unparalleled insight into skills, jobs, companies, professional profiles, and workforce trends across 165 countries. Our proprietary taxonomies, advanced AI, and expert guidance transform complex data into clear, actionable intelligence.
About Opportunity@Work
Opportunity@Work is a 501(c)3 nonprofit social enterprise on a mission to rewire the labor market so all Americans can work, learn, and earn to their full potential. Our work advances economic opportunities for the 70+ million U.S. workers who are Skilled Through Alternative Routes (STARs) instead of through a bachelor's degree. Our goal is to enable upward mobility for 1 million STARs by opening up 10 million jobs, and boost their earnings by 100 billion dollars by 2035. Learn more at opportunityatwork.org
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