Durbin, Warnock, Schneider Introduce Investing In Tomorrow’s Workforce Act
The legislation will support training programs to ensure workers are not left behind as automation accelerates
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), along with U.S. Representative Brad Schneider (D-IL-10), today introduced bicameral legislation that increases federal investments in worker training and helps prepare workers for the 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.
“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 Durbin. “The Investing in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act will reaffirm our standing as an innovative global economic power while strengthening the middle class.”
“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 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.”
“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 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.”
Jobs most affected by automation are those held predominantly by groups that are already vulnerable, such as low-income earners and people of color. An International Monetary Fund report found that previous pandemic events have accelerated automation, and that economies with higher robot density see a larger increase in inequality in the medium term.
However, investments in the training needed to transition workers into these new opportunities are at historic lows. The United States typically spends about 0.1 percent 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.
A 2023 report found that automation will pose a risk to 900,000 to 1.5 million jobs in Illinois, or to 14 to 25 percent of its workforce.
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.
The Investing in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act is supported by the National Skills Coalition.
A one-pager on the Investing in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act is available here.
-30-