The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration has issued new guidance to states on using federal workforce funds to expand artificial intelligence (AI) literacy and training opportunities. The directive encourages states and local workforce development boards to integrate AI learning into programs supported by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).

The move is part of the Trump administration’s broader push to strengthen AI education under the president’s executive order, Advancing Artificial Intelligence Education for American Youth. The guidance applies to WIOA Title I programs for youth, adults, and dislocated workers, and urges governors to leverage reserve funds to expand AI learning opportunities across their states.

Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer said, “By sending out this new guidance, the Department of Labor is fulfilling the President’s goal and acting on our commitment to put the American worker first.”

Deputy Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling emphasized the urgency of preparing workers for a changing labor market. “As AI continues to reshape the labor market, we are seeing entire new categories of jobs be created, many of which are high-paying and no longer require a four-year degree,” he said. “We believe that AI literacy is the gateway to opportunity in an AI-driven economy.”

The Labor Department has also highlighted resources such as the Competency Model Clearinghouse, the National Science Foundation, and AI.gov to support AI-related training. The initiative builds on the department’s recent report, America’s Talent Strategy: Building the Workforce for the Golden Age, which outlines steps to ensure U.S. workers benefit from the rise of AI.

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