Summary At a Glance
- BLS has proposed adding AI-use questions to the American Time Use Survey beginning in January 2027.
- The proposal does not create employer compliance obligations but may provide useful workforce and skills data.
- Public comments are due September 8, 2026.
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has proposed adding new artificial intelligence (AI) questions to the American Time Use Survey. The questions would measure whether individuals use AI tools, the types of tasks for which they use them, and how AI use relates to work, education, household responsibilities, and leisure. If approved, the questions would be included in the survey beginning in January 2027.
The proposal does not create a new compliance requirement for employers. However, the resulting data may help employers better understand how AI is affecting job tasks, productivity, skill requirements, and workforce trends. Employers should continue reviewing how AI is used within their organizations and ensure they have clear policies addressing confidentiality, data security, accuracy, human oversight, and appropriate workplace use.
Recommended Next Steps for Employers
The BLS is accepting public comments through September 8, 2026. Employers and other interested parties may submit feedback on the usefulness of the proposed questions, the estimated respondent burden, and ways to improve the quality and clarity of the information collected. Comments may be sent to Erin Good, BLS Clearance Officer, Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor Statistics, by email to BLS_PRA_Public@bls.gov.
Organizations may also wish to monitor the proposal and review the resulting data when available for insights into how AI is affecting workplace tasks and skill requirements.
