CALIFORNIA — California AI workforce tracking is expanding as state officials examine how artificial intelligence could change occupations and the skills employees need. New federal classifications now give workforce agencies another tool for monitoring those changes.
The California Employment Development Department said Aug. 28 that it plans to combine state employment data with new AI exposure measurements from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
BLS released the classifications with its 2025-35 employment projections. The system places occupations into low, moderate, high or very high categories based on their relative exposure to AI.
Exposure measures whether AI could assist with or complete tasks within an occupation. It does not predict whether workers will lose their jobs.
“At EDD, we are working to combine California’s employment data with emerging AI-exposure measurements like these so we can carefully monitor labor market changes and help Californians adapt,” EDD Director Nancy Farias said.
Tracking Changes In California Employment
BLS cautions that high exposure does not necessarily mean employment in an occupation will decline. An occupation could have many tasks suited for AI while demand for its workers continues to grow.
The agency also says its categories do not predict wages, productivity, AI adoption or worker replacement.
California has developed its own system to watch for potential disruption.
EDD launched the California AI-Unemployment Tracker in July with the California Policy Lab. The tracker uses unemployment insurance claims to examine trends among workers whose previous occupations have different levels of AI exposure.
The tool is updated monthly and includes data by industry, region, education, age and other characteristics.
EDD stresses that the tracker provides descriptive signals rather than proof that AI caused layoffs. Unemployment claims can change because of many economic factors.
Residents can explore the data through the California AI-Unemployment Tracker.
California AI Workforce Tracking Guides Preparation
The new federal classifications could strengthen California AI workforce tracking by giving state officials another measure for comparing changes across occupations.
For San Gabriel Valley workers, exposure will vary considerably by occupation. BLS says customer service representatives and web developers are among occupations with very high relative exposure.
Jobs involving physical work can fall lower on the scale. BLS lists firefighters and dental hygienists among its low-exposure examples.
Those categories should not be viewed as rankings of job security. BLS says low exposure does not mean an occupation is protected from technological or economic change.
California officials are also looking beyond unemployment data toward workforce preparation.
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order in May directing state agencies to address potential economic effects of AI on workers and small businesses. EDD said the state has invested nearly $750,000 toward developing an AI workforce strategy for California’s 45 local workforce development boards.
The state has also launched an AI literacy microcredential pilot to build practical workplace skills.
Workers can review the federal classifications through the Bureau of Labor Statistics AI exposure categories.
As AI becomes more common at work, California officials are building tools to distinguish technological change from broader labor market shifts. For workers, that research could help identify where job duties are changing and where training may become increasingly valuable.
