opportunity@work defines STARS as individuals who may not have a four-year college degree but possess the skills for higher-wage work. They are typically at least 25 years old, active in the workforce, and have a high school diploma but not a bachelor’s degree. They have developed valuable skills on the job, through military service, in community college, or through other alternative routes. Research has found that millions of STARs have demonstrated skills for roles with salaries at least 50% higher than their current job. There are estimated to be more than 70 million workers in this category, and they constitute a major, large, and overlooked talent pool.