The U.S. Department of Labor has announced its strong support for President Trump’s “AI Action Plan,” titled Winning the Race: America’s AI Action Plan, which establishes a strategic policy roadmap for achieving global leadership in artificial intelligence. The plan, crafted in response to the President’s January Executive Order “Removing Barriers to American Leadership in Artificial Intelligence,” sets forth a robust vision to foster technical innovation, workforce development, and economic competitiveness amid an intense international race for AI supremacy.

A Workforce-Centric Approach to AI Leadership

Central to the strategy is the recognition that American workers must be equipped with future-ready skills to thrive in an AI-driven economy. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer underscored the administration’s commitment, stating, “By boosting AI literacy and investing in skills training, we’re equipping hardworking Americans with the tools they need to lead and succeed in this new era.” The aim is to ensure that as AI transforms industries, the American workforce remains dynamic, adaptable, and at the forefront of the world’s technological breakthroughs.

The AI Action Plan calls for two primary initiatives led by the Department of Labor:

• Empower American Workers in the Age of AI: Focused on upskilling and reskilling the workforce, this initiative will make AI education and workforce training a key priority across federal funding streams. It commits to expanding AI literacy nationwide—the foundation for economic mobility and innovation.
• Train a Skilled Workforce for AI Infrastructure: This initiative seeks to identify and prioritize occupations critical to building and maintaining AI infrastructure, partnering with education, industry, and government stakeholders to develop programs supporting these in-demand roles.

Key Measures to Build an AI-Ready Workforce

The Department of Labor will advance the administration’s worker-centric AI vision through several specific measures:

• AI Skills Development: Integrating AI skills training as a core aspect of federally supported education and labor programs, including career and technical education and apprenticeships. Recent surveys by the World Economic Forum indicate that by 2027, 83 million jobs worldwide will be reshaped by AI, underscoring the urgency of upskilling initiatives.
• AI Workforce Research Hub: Establishing a centralized facility to lead research on AI’s labor market impact. The Hub will provide up-to-date analysis and actionable insights, helping policymakers, educators, and employers navigate the evolving landscape of AI adoption, job opportunities, displacement risks, and emerging wage trends.
• Rapid Retraining Programs: Providing funding and guidance for swift retraining of workers affected by AI-driven job changes. According to a Brookings Institution study, workers in sectors such as manufacturing, transportation, and administrative support face significant automation risks, making proactive retraining programs critical.
• Industry-Driven Apprenticeships: Expanding Registered Apprenticeship programs for AI infrastructure roles, such as data center operations, cybersecurity, and machine learning engineering. The plan includes collaboration with partners at the state and local levels to create new, industry-validated career pathways.

Pioneering New Models and Partnerships

Recognizing the rapidly evolving nature of AI technologies, the Department of Labor will pilot innovative models intended to meet labor market shifts head-on. These pilots may include rapid retraining models for displaced workers and new pathways for entry-level talent, ensuring that opportunities in AI are accessible to a broad, diverse pool of Americans.

The strategy also incorporates early-career exposure initiatives, including expanded pre-apprenticeship and work-based learning programs for secondary students, particularly in communities underrepresented in tech. By engaging students early, the initiative aims to cultivate the next generation of AI professionals—meeting the demands of a digital economy and closing persistent skills gaps noted in recent National Science Board reports.

Global Competition and Economic Impact

The AI Action Plan arrives at a time of fierce global competition, with countries like China and the European Union racing to assert technological leadership. According to a 2024 report by McKinsey Global Institute, AI could add up to $4.4 trillion annually to the global economy, and nations that effectively harness AI innovation and workforce development will be best positioned to lead in this economic transformation.

By putting a premium on AI literacy, workforce upskilling, and collaboration across the public and private sectors, the U.S. aims to solidify its status as a global leader in responsible and competitive AI innovation. The federal government’s commitment to regularly evaluating outcomes and adapting strategies is designed to ensure that American workers and businesses remain resilient and competitive as the AI revolution advances.

Looking Ahead

Deputy Secretary Keith Sonderling emphasized the Department’s readiness to deliver on these efforts, stating that the Department “looks forward to executing the critical AI Action Plan efforts that will support our workforce, including expanding AI literacy nationwide, creating a new hub to analyze AI’s impact on the labor market, and piloting innovative models to help workers succeed in an AI-driven economy.”

With the release of the “AI Action Plan,” the United States sends a clear signal of its ambition to set the global standard in both AI technological advances and human capital development. As implementation accelerates throughout 2025, all eyes will be on the Department of Labor—and the broader AI ecosystem—to shape a future where innovation and opportunity go hand in hand for the American workforce.

For more on the full plan, visit Winning the Race: America’s AI Action Plan.