U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) filed legislation today to help millions of American workers who could soon find themselves out of job as our economy continues to shift towards more automation thanks to continuous advances in new technology.
According to McKinsey Global Institute, up to one third of the American workforce could be replaced by automation by 2030. As more and more businesses choose to employ new technologies – such as driverless cars, warehouse robotics and self-checkout kiosks – instead of traditional American workers, tens of millions of jobs could soon be obsolete.
To help ensure American workers are not left behind, Nelson’s legislation would create a tax incentive for companies that hire workers from fields most impacted by the shift to automation. It would also provide additional tax savings to help lower the cost of education for workers who choose to learn new skills and pursue jobs in fields with a short supply of skilled labor.
“The world is changing and we need to change with it,” Nelson said. “We need to do everything we can to create additional jobs and opportunities for the millions of hardworking people who could wake up one day and suddenly find their job obsolete.”
A copy of the bill (S.2648) is available here. It now heads to the Senate Finance committee for consideration.
A section-by-section breakdown of the legislation can be found here.
