Senators Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and Dick Durbin (D-IL), and Representative Brad Schneider (D-IL10) have introduced the bicameral Investing In Tomorrow’s Workforce Act. The bill increases federal investments in worker training and helps prepare workers for future jobs.
Sen. Warnock highlighted the need to bolster America’s workforce against technological encroachment in a statement.
“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 Sen. 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.”
The Bill
The primary objective of the Investing in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act is to ensure that American workers possess the skills necessary to obtain higher-skilled positions within growing industries.
It is 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.
Investments in necessary training are at historic lows, and the United States only spends about 0.1% of its Global Domestic Product (GDP) on active labor market policies. This is significantly less than many European countries and less than half of the level of workforce investments made in the United States 30 years ago.
Sen. Durbin commented on the legislative effort, stating that it will reaffirm America’s standing as a global economic power and strengthen the middle class. “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,” he said.
