Two U.S. senators unveiled legislation that would require large employers and federal agencies to report quarterly to the Labor Department on job changes tied to artificial intelligence—including layoffs, hires and positions left unfilled due to automation. The DOL would aggregate and publish the data for Congress and the public. Sponsors Josh Hawley (R., Mo.) and Mark Warner (D., Va.) say better information is needed to guide policy, citing projections that AI could push the U.S. unemployment rate as high as 10% to 20% within five years. The bill could include some private firms that meet certain thresholds, but faces hurdles around consistent definitions, coverage of smaller businesses and data verification. While it wouldn’t limit automation, backers argue transparency could inform retraining initiatives and future regulation as AI reshapes the workforce.
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