California launches a statewide tracker to monitor AI-related job loss

California launched a statewide tracker to monitor AI-related job loss on October 23, 2024, marking the first tool of its kind in the United States. This initiative, a collaboration between Governor Gavin Newsom's office, the California Employment Development Department (EDD), and the University of California's California Policy Lab (CPL), utilizes statewide unemployment insurance claims data to identify trends. The tracker will be updated monthly and will provide breakdowns of claims by region, industry, age, education, race, ethnicity, and gender. This development follows an executive order signed by Governor Newsom in May, which directed state agencies to create policies supporting workers potentially impacted by AI-driven job displacement. Governor Newsom stated that California is embracing innovation while acknowledging the associated responsibilities, aiming to lead the nation in preparing for the future of AI. The tracker's release occurs amidst ongoing discussions about AI's impact on the labor market, with over 121,000 tech employees laid off in 2024, according to Layoffs.fyi. While some industry leaders have suggested AI is used as a pretext for job cuts, companies like Oracle have acknowledged AI's role in workforce reductions, noting in their annual report that AI deployment has led to and may continue to cause staff reductions. However, the tracker's initial report indicates no statewide surge in layoffs among workers exposed to AI, and other data suggests that few U.S. workers have been directly replaced by AI.