Rep. Tim Walberg introduced the AI Workforce Assessment and Research Enhancement Act (AWARE Act) this week, legislation that would mandate the Bureau of Labor Statistics to track how employers deploy artificial intelligence and how AI is affecting workers. The bill addresses a persistent federal data gap: currently there is no consistent or timely way to measure AI adoption across the economy.
In 2019, Congress directed the BLS to develop a strategy for understanding how automation, digitization, and AI are reshaping employment. The resulting report found that policymakers lack the necessary numbers to see where and how technologies are changing the labor market. Walberg's new bill takes the next step, moving from a one-time assessment to ongoing, regular collection.
"Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming our workforce, make it essential for us to understand the impact this new technology is having on our employment landscape," Walberg said. "This legislation will provide the clarity necessary to support workers, guide training, and ensure the United States stays at the forefront of technological innovation."
What the AWARE Act would require
The bill amends federal labor statistics laws to make AI usage a standard part of BLS data collection, alongside metrics on employment and hours worked. That means the surveys employers already answer would include new, recurring questions about whether and how they use AI tools. The goal is a steady stream of information that state workforce agencies, training providers, and federal analysts can put to immediate use.
Without such a system, officials have relied on irregular studies, private-sector estimates, or proxy data that can't reveal trends quickly enough to inform policy. The AWARE Act would create the infrastructure for a consistent, official measure of AI's footprint in jobs nationwide.
Turning data into workforce policy
The bill's backers argue that better data will let government agencies target reskilling grants, adjust unemployment insurance programs, and rework economic development plans as jobs evolve. Instead of reacting to anecdotes, labor economists and program managers would work from a current, representative picture of which industries and regions are automating tasks.
For government professionals tracking how AI is reshaping agency operations and workforce policies, resources such as AI for Government provide ongoing analysis and training guidance.
Why this matters for government professionals
If the AWARE Act passes, federal and state workforce development offices will gain a statistical series they can use to allocate funds, set training priorities, and measure program outcomes with more precision. Labor market analysts inside government will no longer have to stitch together incomplete data to advise elected officials. It's a practical tool that connects the conversation about AI to the day-to-day work of running employment and training programs.
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