Economic Mobility

In today’s economy, businesses succeed when people succeed. Economic mobility contributes directly to inclusive growth. Regions that adopt more inclusive economic policies tend to experience lower poverty rates, stronger overall economic performance, and higher levels of innovation.

With demographic shifts, evolving workforce demands and rising expectations from both workers and consumers, investing in mobility and opportunity is no longer a nice-to-have. It’s a business necessity.

• Mobility Fuels Spending and Profitability: Economic mobility is a powerful engine for both consumer spending and business profitability. When individuals gain greater access to opportunities and move up the economic ladder, they experience an increase in discretionary income. This newfound spending power can propel demand for goods and services, directly benefiting businesses across the economy.
• Meeting Demographic Shifts with Opportunity: Talent is everywhere, but opportunity isn’t, and the need for skilled workers spans all age groups. Chambers, business leaders, educators, nonprofits and elected officials can work to ensure that people of all ages and lived experiences have access to training, education and economic opportunities. With the competition for skilled talent, companies need to tap every corner of the talent pool to stay ahead. 
• Small Business - The Mobility Multiplier: Economic mobility creates fertile ground for small business growth. With more disposable income and better access to capital, aspiring entrepreneurs can invest in their own ventures. More small businesses mean more jobs, innovation and vibrant main streets. 
• Safer, Stronger Communities: Areas with higher economic mobility tend to have lower crime rates, especially among young people. That means safer communities, stronger schools and a better quality of life, all of which make those areas more attractive to employers and investors. 

Chambers of commerce play a critical role in promoting inclusive economic growth and mobility. In doing so, they create a more vibrant and competitive local economy, which benefits businesses by broadening the talent pool and expanding consumer markets. Chambers can help reduce barriers that prevent individuals from achieving economic mobility by changing systems around private sector development and innovation, talent development, community development and governance and finance development. Chambers can be a part of coalitions that change practices, policies, processes, mindsets, resource flows and more.

Convene and Connect

• A Better Wake, The Raleigh Chamber
• Kentucky Collaborative on Childcare, supported by the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Foundation
• Bristol Chamber Creating Economic Mobility Strategy

Inform and Message

• Childcare solutions could increase state GDP by up to $7.5 billion, Commerce report finds, North Carolina Chamber of Commerce
• Maximizing Human Potential and Economic Mobility For Coloradans, Colorado Chamber of Commerce, and partners
• The economic contributions of New Americans in Minnesota, Feb. 2025, The Minnesota Chamber
• Economic Mobility Index, The Raleigh Chamber

Program

• Connect To Work AZ, Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce
• Programs for Entrepreneurs, McAllen Chamber of Commerce (Texas)
• Lowcountry Careers Collaborative in Healthcare, Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce
• MoGo Transportation Pilot, Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce and Via

Advocate

• The Northwest Chamber Alliance supports SB25-161: Transit Reform
• Fredericksburg Chamber of Commerce (Va.) supports investment in expanded broadband via public–private partnerships, critical infrastructure for economic mobility in rural or underserved areas.
• The Greater Philadelphia Chamber recently backed legislation promoting “fair chance hiring,” aimed to improve access to employment opportunities for individuals with criminal records, expanding economic mobility for a historically marginalized group.