Securing The Future of America’s Critical Industries – The Aspen Institute

In the wake of supply chain shocks, increased global competition, and fears of global conflict, policymakers over the last several years have made concerted efforts to strengthen our manufacturing and industrial base, as well as protect and advance high-tech sectors. As the country seeks to further develop and retain these strong assets, many are concerned that a large wave of retiring business owners in manufacturing and the uncertainties of ownership and leadership in the tech sector could lead to the loss of many of these businesses through closure, offshoring, or sales to parties that are unlikely to maintain US operations. In this discussion from the 2025 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum, panelists discuss the critical role these industries play and how employee ownership can potentially help strengthen and retain these important sectors and the jobs they provide.
This video comes from the third Employee Ownership Ideas Forum, hosted by the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program and the Rutgers Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing. Our 2025 forum, “From Workers to Owners,” highlighted how the experience of ownership changes the reality of work for workers. The forum featured companies in a range of business sectors and explored how employee ownership fits their business strategy and approach to business leadership. The particular role employee ownership can play in supporting business success was discussed , and the role institutional investors can play in improving capital access for employee ownership conversions and expansions was also considered.
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For more from the Forum — including audio, transcripts, and additional resources — visit:
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