DOL Releases AI Literacy Framework for the U.S. Workforce

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) published a framework Feb. 13 that officials say will help workers succeed in an AI-driven economy.

The department’s Employment and Training Administration outlined foundational content areas and delivery principles for AI literacy, designed to guide skill development efforts across the U.S. workforce and education systems.

The framework is meant to help states, workforce boards, community colleges, apprenticeship programs, and employers train an AI-ready workforce.

“The Department of Labor is committed to making sure all American workers are able to share in the prosperity that AI will create for our economy,” said Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer.

The framework is a result of the White House’s AI Action Plan, which instructed the DOL to integrate AI training into federally supported skills initiatives, including workforce training and apprenticeships.

Specialty Credential: AI+HI

The framework highlights five “content areas of AI literacy” that it considers foundational, including:

• Understanding AI principles, such as the technology’s capabilities and limitations.
• Exploring AI uses and showing how AI can “complement human expertise.”
• Directing AI effectively with clear prompts.
• Evaluating AI outputs for accuracy.
• Using AI responsibly, ensuring data security and accountability.

The seven delivery principles outlined in the framework are enabling experiential learning; building complementary human skills such as communication, creativity, and problem-solving; creating pathways for continued learning; designing for agility; embedding learning in context; addressing barriers to AI literacy; and preparing managers to play a supportive role in AI learning.

The framework doesn’t impose any new requirements on either companies or workers and instead offers a voluntary action plan for AI literacy.

“In most workplaces, indicating a need for AI literacy is not enough on its own — employers will need to define the specific AI skills and depth of knowledge that are most appropriate for each role and context,” said Deputy Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling. “The full framework document expands on each of these areas in detail and offers practical considerations for different groups, including workers, businesses, state and local agencies, and education and training providers.”

The Trump administration has said it wants to promote a “worker-first AI agenda” through initiatives such as funding skills development and retraining programs, as well as studying the technology’s impact on job displacement and wages.

At the same time, the White House is seeking to dismantle state-level efforts to regulate the technology. In a vacuum of federal regulation, a handful of states have enacted laws relating to the use of AI in employment, with additional proposals from more states on the way. The executive order does not invalidate these state laws, and they remain enforceable until blocked by a court or pre-empted by Congress.