Work in the AI Age: U.S. Labor Acting Secretary Keith Sonderling on Upskilling American Workers

At the recent Agentic AI Summit, Acting Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling highlighted the Department of Labor’s AI literacy framework as a cornerstone for preparing America’s workforce for an AI‑driven economy. He emphasized that rapid AI adoption is creating both urgency and opportunity, with many workers fearing displacement while employers scramble to integrate intelligent agents. By translating complex AI concepts into concrete policy, the Labor Department aims to demystify the technology, shift the narrative from job loss to job augmentation, and ensure that every employee—from factory floor to corporate office—understands how AI can enhance productivity.

To operationalize this vision, the Labor Department is linking billions of federal grant dollars to AI‑focused training programs across sectors. Executive orders now require the Department of Education, the National Science Foundation, and Labor to co‑create a unified AI curriculum for K‑12 schools, community colleges, and workforce development agencies. A key pillar is expanding registered apprenticeships beyond traditional trades into high‑tech fields, offering an “earn‑while‑learn” model that lets 18‑year‑olds acquire corporate‑grade coding skills while earning an average starting salary of $86,000. Employers that embed AI literacy into apprenticeship contracts can qualify for additional funding, creating a virtuous cycle of talent pipelines and innovation.

Businesses that ignore AI upskilling risk falling behind as automation reshapes job functions. Sonderling argues that a 70‑percent AI augmentation rate—where only 30 percent of tasks are fully automated—creates new opportunities for higher‑value work, provided employees possess baseline AI competence. Companies can leverage the Department’s grant framework to pilot AI‑enhanced processes, reduce training costs, and improve retention by offering clear career pathways. Ultimately, embedding AI literacy into corporate culture not only mitigates workforce anxiety but also drives competitive advantage, positioning firms to capture emerging markets while contributing to the national goal of one million active apprenticeships by 2025.