Pennsylvania lawmakers advance bill to study AI’s workforce impact

Pennsylvania lawmakers have advanced bipartisan legislation to conduct a comprehensive study on how artificial intelligence will impact the state’s workforce and economy. Senate Bill 293, sponsored by Sens. Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia and Montgomery) and Kristin Phillips-Hill (R-York), passed the Senate Labor and Industry Committee and now moves to the full Senate for consideration.

What you should know: The legislation directs two state departments to analyze AI’s expected effects across Pennsylvania’s industries and workforce.

• The Department of Labor and Industry and the Department of Community and Economic Development would lead the comprehensive study.
• The report must be delivered to the General Assembly within one year of the bill becoming law.
• The study aims to identify which sectors will see job enhancement versus displacement and analyze which workers will be most affected.

Why this matters: Pennsylvania leaders are preparing for AI’s transformative impact on work rather than reacting after changes occur.

• “We’re seeing real fear and uncertainty about what it means to bring artificial intelligence into our workplaces,” Hughes said. “If Pennsylvania leaders are going to be prepared for the ways this powerful technology will impact our lives and how we work, we need to fully understand what’s coming.”
• The proactive approach positions Pennsylvania to support worker transitions and maintain economic competitiveness as AI adoption accelerates across industries.

Key focus areas: The study will examine critical aspects of workforce adaptation to AI-driven economic changes.

• Researchers will identify skills and training needed for workers to succeed in an AI-driven economy.
• The report will provide recommendations to support worker transitions and ensure Pennsylvania’s workforce remains competitive and resilient.
• Analysis will include strategies to help Pennsylvanians adapt to the evolving economic landscape.

What they’re saying: Both sponsors emphasize the urgency of understanding AI’s workplace implications.

• “This impact report will give us insight into how artificial intelligence will both enhance and disrupt Pennsylvania’s economy,” Hughes explained. “We will be better able to prepare and protect Pennsylvanians with this information.”
• “Artificial intelligence is no longer science fiction, it’s here and already changing how we work,” Phillips-Hill said. “This legislation ensures Pennsylvania is not caught flat-footed.”