The Investing In Tomorrow’s Workforce Act supports training programs, helping ensure workers are not left behind as automation and AI accelerate

Senator Warnock recently introduced the Pathways to Prosperity Act which would allow more technical college students to “earn while they learn,” among other incentives for businesses and technical colleges

Senator Reverend Warnock: “The American worker is the backbone of this nation, and although we are on the forefront of a new technological era with the advancements of AI and automation, we must continue to support our workers with the tools they need to be successful well into the future”

Washington, D.C. — Today, Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Brad Schneider (D-IL-10) introduced the bicameral Investing In Tomorrow’s Workforce Act. 

The bill increases federal investments in worker training and helps prepare workers for jobs of the future. The Investing in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act would ensure that American workers have the skills needed to successfully navigate the transition into higher-skilled positions and in-demand industries. It has been estimated that nearly 50 percent of jobs in the United States could be at risk due to automation. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated these trends, with one recent study by the World Economic Forum (WEF) indicating that roughly 40 percent of current workers will require reskilling as a result of future automation. 

“The American worker is the backbone of this nation, and although we are on the forefront of a new technological era with the advancements of AI and automation, we must continue to support our workers with the tools they need to be successful well into the future,” said Senator Warnock. “As the world advances, our workforce must be equipped to advance with it. That is why I am proud to work alongside Senator Durbin on this legislation supporting our workers.”

“An investment in America’s workforce is an investment in our economy.  As automation becomes a part of our workforce, we must equip American workers for the future,” said Senator Durbin. “The Investing in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act will reaffirm our standing as an innovative global economic power while strengthening the middle class.”

“Innovation and new technologies are changing our economy and creating new opportunities for employment and growth. While we innovate, we need to also invest in preparing workers for these new opportunities,” said Representative Schneider. “I’m proud to join Senators Durbin and Warnock to introduce the Investing in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act to help prepare American workers for the jobs of the future and foster innovation that will ensure the U.S. remains a global economic leader.”

Investments in the training needed to transition workers into these new opportunities are at historic lows. The United States typically spends about 0.1% of Global Domestic Product (GDP) on active labor market policies—significantly less than many European countries and less than half of the level of workforce investments made in the United States 30 years ago.

Specifically, the Investing in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act would:

• Invest in Workforce Training.  The bill would create a grant program through the Department of Labor to support industry partnerships in developing and carrying out training programs for workers who are, or are likely to become, dislocated because of advances in technology, including automation.

• Expand Current Programs. The bill would increase funding for National Dislocated Worker Grants and amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) to ensure workers who are dislocated by automation are included in WIOA programs.

Senator Warnock has championed workforce development since coming to the Senate. His bipartisan Pathways to Prosperity Act would allow more technical college students to “earn while they learn,” incentivizing business and technical colleges to partner to create high-wage career pathways, align job training curriculum, and scale apprenticeship programs for students. He successfully bolstered the workforce development pipeline for aviation workers in previous Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization legislation. Additionally, the Senator has introduced legislation to address shortages in education professionals to staff Head Start classrooms. Senator Warnock has also secured funding for regional tech hubs in the CHIPS and Science Act after bringing top Administration officials to a pilot regional tech hub at Georgia Tech.

The Investing in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act is supported by the National Skills Coalition.