At HR Tech 2025, HR Executive Tech Editor Jill Barth sat down with U.S. Deputy Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling to discuss how HR leaders can prepare their workforces with AI literacy for the year ahead. In this exclusive interview, Sonderling revealed a major shift at the Department of Labor—from AI compliance guidance to workforce solutions designed to help organizations thrive in the AI economy.
Sonderling shared that a new AI Workplace Hub will provide centralized access to upskilling strategies, labor market data on AI’s impact by industry and training programs to close workforce skills gaps.
The Deputy Secretary also emphasized that building employee trust in AI tools requires transparent communication about why organizations are adopting AI and how it will augment rather than replace workers. He said that giving employees the baseline AI literacy they need to embrace these tools confidently can turn potential resistance into a competitive advantage for your organization.
Watch the full interview above to hear Sonderling’s insights on apprenticeship expansion, the administration’s AI literacy initiatives and how the DOL is partnering with employers to prepare American workers for the jobs of tomorrow.
