Friends of BLS Applauds Bipartisan AI Data Act for Strengthening Federal Labor Market Statistics
Washington, D.C. — Friends of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (FoBLS) today announced its support for the bipartisan Artificial Intelligence Data Authorization and Transparency (AI DATA) Act of 2026, introduced by Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Jim Banks (R-IN), and Todd Young (R-IN). The AI DATA Act would strengthen and modernize existing federal labor market data systems so that workers, businesses, educators, researchers, and policymakers can better understand how artificial intelligence is reshaping the workforce.
“Artificial intelligence is transforming work in real time, and policymakers need reliable, timely data to understand what is changing, where, and why,” said Friends of BLS Co‑Chairs and former BLS Commissioners Erica Groshen and William Beach. “The bipartisan AI DATA Act strengthens the statistical infrastructure that makes this possible by reinforcing core BLS programs and improving coordination across federal data systems. High‑quality labor statistics are a national asset, and modernizing BLS’s ability to measure labor demand, work patterns, and long‑term workforce outcomes will benefit workers, businesses, and communities across the country.”
The bill authorizes and modernizes several existing Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) surveys and ensures the data collected can help assess changes associated with technological change, including AI:
Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS): Tracks job openings, hires, quits, layoffs, and other labor market turnover indicators to measure labor demand and workforce changes across industries and regions.
American Time Use Survey (ATUS): Measures how Americans allocate their time across work, caregiving, education, and other activities, helping policymakers understand how work patterns and tasks change over time.
National Longitudinal Surveys (NLS): Follows individuals over time to track employment outcomes, earnings growth, job mobility, education, and training.
Additionally, the legislation:
Authorizes AI Supplement to a Census Business Survey: Requires the U.S. Census Bureau to incorporate questions on AI adoption and workforce impacts into the Business Trends and Outlook Survey (BTOS) on a quarterly basis for 10 years.
Creates an Annual AI Workforce Report: Directs the Departments of Labor and Commerce to publish an annual report analyzing the impact of AI on the workforce using integrated data from BLS surveys, Census data, and other federal datasets. The reporting requirement sunsets after 10 years.
These targeted investments would advance the timeliness, reliability, and granularity of federal labor market data at a moment of rapid technological change.
Click here to read the full text of the bill and here for a one-pager.
Friends of BLS is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening the Bureau of Labor Statistics and advancing the quality, accessibility, and public understanding of federal labor statistics.
###