Keith Sonderling was confirmed as U.S. Secretary of Labor after the Senate voted 47-41 on September 30, 2026. Sonderling had been serving as acting labor secretary since April and now takes over the department on a permanent basis. AI, workforce training and the changing nature of jobs have been central themes in his recent comments and policy priorities. During his confirmation process, Sonderling said the Labor Department was collecting information about how companies and unions are using artificial intelligence. He said the Bureau of Labor Statistics could use that information to better understand how AI is affecting employment and help guide workforce-training investments. Sonderling has also pushed back against what he described as a pessimistic narrative about AI and employment. He has said artificial intelligence could increase productivity and improve workplace safety, while acknowledging that more information is needed to understand its full effect on jobs. At his confirmation hearing, Sonderling discussed the possibility that generative AI could displace some knowledge workers and people in office-based roles. He said the Labor Department would need to identify which tasks are being automated and determine where affected workers could apply their skills elsewhere. His approach emphasizes reskilling and upskilling if AI causes significant job displacement. The Labor Department has also launched initiatives to incorporate AI skills into Registered Apprenticeships. The program is designed to expand AI-related training and practical technology skills across areas such as advanced manufacturing, telecommunications and data-center operations. The department has separately pursued data-sharing arrangements with major technology companies to gather information about AI’s impact on hiring and employment. These efforts are intended to give policymakers more information about changing labor-market conditions. Sonderling’s record includes previous roles at the Labor Department and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, where he became involved in discussions about artificial intelligence and workplace policy. His confirmation places him in charge of a department responsible for labor standards, employment statistics, workforce development and worker protections. His tenure will include decisions about how federal workforce programs respond to technological changes and how the government tracks AI’s effects on employment. As of October 1, 2026, Sonderling is the confirmed U.S. Secretary of Labor, with AI-related workforce changes and worker training among the issues highlighted in his recent public statements and department initiatives.
