Bridging the AI Education Gap

A Call to Action for Workforce Boards, Education, and Industry

The conversation around AI and the future of work is no longer theoretical. It’s here, and it’s reshaping our labor market in real-time.

At the Launch Lab, we’re fortunate to work across San Mateo County and Silicon Valley — a region that is both the birthplace of much of today’s AI innovation and ground zero for its impacts on the workforce. As we watch jobs evolve, skill demands rise, and new career pathways emerge, one thing is clear: we cannot leave AI literacy and workforce development to chance.

A recent Executive Order from President Trump, issued early last week, underscores this urgency by directing federal agencies to advance “Artificial Intelligence Education for American Youth.” It’s a powerful statement: preparing our future workforce for an AI-powered economy is now a national priority.

This national conversation is also taking place locally. Just last week, our President and NOVAworks CEO Marlena Sessions participated in a high-profile conversation hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, focused on how artificial intelligence is transforming the labor market. Her message was clear: if we want AI to expand opportunity, not just automate tasks, we need to invest now in systems that build talent from the ground up.

But it’s not just a federal or academic challenge. Workforce Boards, education systems, and private sector leaders must collaborate to ensure that our entire population—not just youth—has access to the skills and credentials needed to thrive in an AI-augmented economy.

Why We Must Act

Recent national data paints a clear picture:

Nearly 40% of working-age adults (18-64) are already using generative AI tools at work or home.
Between 1% and 5% of total U.S. work hours are already AI-assisted, suggesting early but significant productivity gains.
Employment in roles directly augmented by AI (e.g., software development, data architecture) is projected to grow by 10-18% through 2033, much faster than the national average.

In short: AI is rapidly raising the floor for skills needed across industries. The disruption is real, but so is the opportunity — if we act strategically.

How We Move Forward: Cross-Sector Collaboration

To meet this moment, we believe regional workforce strategies must prioritize three key actions:

1. Develop AI-Literacy Pathways for All Workers

AI isn’t just for computer scientists. It’s transforming customer service, finance, healthcare, manufacturing, and public sector jobs. We need:

Customized AI certificate series aligned with industry-specific applications (e.g., AI for Healthcare Operations, AI for Advanced Manufacturing, AI for Public Sector Service Delivery).
Foundational AI courses embedded in adult education, career technical education (CTE), and workforce training programs.
Microcredentialing focused on applied AI use cases that allow workers to stack and share the skills the acquire quickly.

2. Strengthen Public-Private Partnerships

Employers must help shape curriculum, provide real-world AI project experience, and signal demand clearly. Education and workforce boards must:

Convene employer advisory groups focused on AI skills across sectors.
Build earn-and-learn models (e.g., apprenticeships, internships) where AI tools are integrated into training from day one.
Incentivize sector-based pilots where education, workforce, and industry co-design programs responsive to emerging AI needs.

3. Make AI Education Equitable and Accessible

AI skills must not be a luxury. We must:

Expand access to free or low-cost AI training, especially for underrepresented communities, something our public workforce development system is well positioned to provide.
Embed AI readiness into youth workforce programs, adult upskilling initiatives, and public workforce system services.
Ensure digital infrastructure and access to AI tools are available across all regions, not just tech hubs, especially across our suburban and rural communities.

Launch Lab’s Role: Piloting Bold Ideas

At the Launch Lab, we’re exploring several initiatives to support this vision, including:

An AI Certificate Series for Industry: Modular, short-term certificates aligned to real-world, sector-specific AI applications.
AI Career Readiness Bootcamps: Intensive, accessible programs for displaced workers, mid-career changers, and opportunity youth.
Public Sector AI Training Partnership: Helping cities, counties, and public agencies train their workforce to leverage AI for better service delivery.
Work-Based AI Fellowships: Embedding AI-trained fellows inside businesses and nonprofits to accelerate organizational AI adoption while building worker resumes.

We believe San Mateo County and the entire Silicon Valley must not only lead in technology development but also in inclusive talent development.

Final Thought

AI’s future — and our Nation’s economic future — will be determined by how broadly and equitably we invest in AI education and workforce training today. It’s time for workforce boards, educators, and employers to work hand-in-hand to build the onramps our workers need.

The Launch Lab is ready to roll up our sleeves. We invite our partners, funders, and regional leaders to join us in building a workforce that’s not just AI-ready — but AI-empowered.

Learn more, join the conversation, and learn more at our Launch Lab website!