The bill seeks to proactively address the profound impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the United States workforce by improving data collection, forecasting, and workforce training programs. Congress finds that AI will significantly shift labor demand, necessitating better data for policymakers, educators, and workers to mitigate dislocation and shortages. The legislation aims to measure AI capabilities, collect adoption data, and produce employment forecasts to inform policy reforms for training.

To achieve these goals, the Department of Labor (DOL) will solicit public comments and host workshops with experts to guide implementation and identify high-value datasets and analytical approaches. The bill also grants the DOL temporary hiring authority to recruit highly qualified experts in AI and related fields. Furthermore, it establishes an Artificial Intelligence Workforce Research Hub within the DOL to conduct research, scenario planning, and generate actionable insights on AI's impact.

The legislation mandates the Census Bureau to conduct a job-to-job data pilot project, producing recurring statistical series on worker flows between AI-impacted occupations to inform policymaking. This initiative aims to better understand the impact of AI on specific jobs, including changes in demand or required skills. Concurrently, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is directed to launch prize competitions to develop benchmarks for measuring AI's ability to automate or augment tasks, thereby improving forecast accuracy.

To enhance data on AI adoption, the DOL will establish a voluntary reporting program for AI developers and deployers to share anonymized data, ensuring confidentiality and statistical validity. Federal surveys from the Census Bureau and Bureau of Labor Statistics will be revised to incorporate or improve questions on AI adoption, usage, and skill changes. Critically, the bill amends the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act to require employers to disclose if AI was a substantial factor in mass layoffs.

The DOL is also tasked with publishing detailed employment forecasts for AI-sensitive occupations, including prediction intervals for short- and medium-term periods. These forecasts will include benchmark comparisons and transparent methodologies to aid evaluation. Additionally, the National Science Foundation will establish a recurring prize competition to incentivize accurate forecasts and rationales for AI's labor market implications.

Finally, the bill connects these data and research efforts to workforce development by requiring a report on how new data will be incorporated into grant selection and performance measurement for training programs. It also mandates a study on a potential Rapid AI Adjustment Assistance Program for workers dislocated by AI. States will be required to consider these new AI forecasts when updating their lists of in-demand industry sectors and occupations, and the Secretary will identify data elements and develop standards for AI-related workforce data.