SHRM Submits Written Statement to Congress on Building an AI-Ready Workforce
As Congress examines the future of higher education in the age of artificial intelligence, SHRM submitted a written statement for the record to the House Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development during its hearing, "Building an AI-Ready America: Higher Education in the Age of AI."
The statement, submitted by Emily M. Dickens, J.D., SHRM Chief Administrative Officer, outlines several priorities to help strengthen the education-to-employment pipeline and prepare workers and employers for a rapidly changing economy.
SHRM urged policymakers to better align higher education and workforce systems with evolving labor market needs, expand work-based learning opportunities and apprenticeships, invest in AI literacy and lifelong learning, and encourage greater collaboration among employers, educators, and policymakers.
The recommendations reflect the challenges employers are experiencing today. SHRM's 2026 Talent Trends research found that nearly 7 in 10 HR professionals report difficulty recruiting full-time employees, while many organizations continue to struggle to find candidates with both technical capabilities and essential human skills.
The statement also highlights SHRM research showing that AI is changing work far more often than it is replacing workers. As organizations increasingly adopt AI, employers are investing in upskilling, reskilling, and workforce development to help employees succeed alongside emerging technologies.
As SHRM President and Chief Executive Officer Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., SHRM-SCP, has emphasized, "AI + HI = ROI," underscoring that the greatest value of artificial intelligence comes when it is paired with human intelligence, judgment, creativity, and leadership.
SHRM remains committed to working with Congress and other stakeholders to strengthen education-to-employment pathways and help build a more agile, competitive, and future-ready workforce.
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