WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration today issued guidance to states on how to use Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act grants to bolster artificial intelligence literacy and training across the public workforce system. The guidance, which encourages states and local workforce development boards to use Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act funding to support AI literacy among participants in WIOA Title I Youth, Adult, and Dislocated Worker programs, is the department’s latest effort to carry out President Trump’s Executive Order, “Advancing Artificial Intelligence Education for American Youth.” In addition to expanding opportunity within this funding pathway, the department encourages states to use their governor’s reserve funds to integrate AI learning opportunities into programming. “President Trump set out with a goal to Make America Skilled Again by providing more flexibility to state and local governments, empowering them to utilize federal resources more efficiently to prepare workers for the in-demand, mortgage-paying jobs of the future. 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,” said Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer.“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,” said Deputy Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling. “We believe that AI literacy is the gateway to opportunity in an AI-driven economy, and this guidance will ensure that more Americans have access to the foundational AI skills they need to succeed.”The department recently laid out its plan to ensure workers can acquire the skills necessary to share in the economic prosperity that AI will create in its report, “America’s Talent Strategy: Building the Workforce for the Golden Age.” By leveraging existing statutory authorities like WIOA, states and localities can prioritize AI literacy and skills development across the workforce system to prepare workers for the jobs of the future. The guidance also highlights related resources from the department’s Competency Model Clearinghouse, the National Science Foundation, and AI.gov. Read the full Training and Employment Guidance Letter.