Gov. Gavin Newsom releases first-in-the-nation tool to track AI-related job losses

California Governor Gavin Newsom launched a first-in-the-nation AI-Unemployment Tracker to monitor job losses linked to artificial intelligence, with initial data showing no statewide surge but upticks in the Bay Area and tech sectors since 2022. The tool, developed with the California Policy Lab, will update monthly to guide interventions like job training and support.

Getting your Trinity Audio //trinityaudio.ai player ready...As the artificial intelligence industry continues to grow, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday announced a first-in-the-nation tracker to monitor AI-related job losses, with the initial released data showing no statewide surge in unemployment in at-risk fields. The tool stems from a May executive order by Newsom to prepare California for “economic disruption” as artificial intelligence continues to take hold, and directed leaders to explore policies to help the state respond to growing labor concerns. It was developed in conjunction with the University of California’s California Policy Lab. “California has always been a place that embraces innovation while taking seriously the responsibility that comes with it,” Newsom said in a news release announcing the tracker. “We’re shaping the future — and charting the course for the nation. As AI advances, we aren’t just watching from the sidelines; we’re reimagining how we prepare California through strong governance and innovative policy.” The dashboard will be updated on a monthly basis and Newsom’s office said that it will allow the state to identify what interventions are needed, such as job-search support, health-coverage assistance and other training resources. “The AI‑Unemployment Tracker provides us with a clearer picture of how AI is affecting working people and jobs, and where we need to focus support and training,” Stewart Knox, the secretary of the Labor & Workforce Development Agency said in the release. “By grounding our decisions in data, we can respond early and strengthen pathways into good jobs to ensure California’s workforce is able to adapt and thrive as technology evolves.” While statewide unemployment claims may not have seen a surge in recent years, the data shows that the release of AI software to the general public did have some impact on vulnerable fields. Unemployment claims saw an uptick in the Bay Area and in technology sectors across the state since 2022. “Right now, we are not seeing evidence of large-scale AI-related layoffs in California’s labor market,” said co-author Dr. Ben Hyman, Senior Researcher at the California Policy Lab. “But we do see patterns in certain regions like the Bay Area, in certain tech-heavy sectors, and among highly AI-exposed workers with college degrees. It will be important to continue monitoring trends for those workers, as well as others, so that policymakers can respond appropriately.”