Building an AI-Literate Workforce to the DOL Framework
The DOL AI Literacy Framework (TEN 07-25) tells employers to prepare their workforce for AI by reviewing workflows where AI tools are emerging, identifying tasks AI can augment, setting literacy expectations per role, enabling hands-on practice, and issuing clear internal guidance on appropriate AI use. It is voluntary, but it is the federal reference for workforce AI training.
Last verified against the DOL source: August 20, 2026. What changed
What TEN 07-25 says to you
Employers are one of the framework's four named audiences, and the guidance is operational: start "by reviewing current workflows where AI tools are emerging, such as drafting reports, analyzing data, or responding to customers"; identify "specific tasks where AI can augment employee capabilities"; determine "what level of AI literacy different roles require"; encourage "simple hands-on practice built around common workplace tasks"; provide "clear internal guidance on appropriate AI use"; and flag roles needing deeper proficiency. The use cases DOL names: onboarding new hires, upskilling current employees, and ensuring managers can guide AI adoption. Industry associations are explicitly invited to build shared member approaches.
What it means for you
Three practical consequences. First, you now have a defensible design reference: "our AI training is built to the DOL framework" is a statement you can evidence to boards, auditors, insurers, and counsel. Second, the framework's Area 5 (Use AI Responsibly) plus your internal AI policy are one integrated deliverable, training is how the policy becomes behavior. Third, the enabling-roles principle means managers must be trained as a distinct population, or the rollout dies at the team level. If you have EU exposure, note the contrast: EU AI Act Article 4 makes AI literacy a binding obligation, enforced since August 2, 2026, so one program built to both references is the efficient path. → DOL framework vs. Article 4
Compare the DOL framework with EU AI Act Article 4 if any part of your workforce sits inside the EU. One program can serve both references; the evidence they ask for is different.
Your first five moves
(1) inventory where employees already use AI, officially or not; (2) write or refresh the internal AI-use policy (Area 5 needs it); (3) train managers first (Principle 6); (4) roll out hands-on literacy training mapped to the five content areas; (5) document alignment per provision, the evidence file is what procurement, auditors, and boards ask for.
The provisions that matter most to you
How GAGE serves you
Team deployment of AI Literacy and Professional Conduct: seats run $89, $69 and $49 a seat by volume, from 10 seats, with an admin view and a per-seat evidence report, topics passed, mastery scores and credential status, exportable for your training file.
GAGE for employersQuestions from readers like you
Does the DOL framework require employers to train staff?
No, it is voluntary guidance with no mandate. Its weight is practical: it defines what credible AI literacy training contains, and WIOA-funded programs are being aligned to it.
Can we claim our training is "DOL certified"?
No, that claim would be false. DOL certifies nothing under TEN 07-25. The accurate claim is "built to the DOL AI Literacy Framework," and you should be able to show the mapping.
Score what you have against the framework
Sixty checkpoints, twelve provisions, about twelve minutes, and a dated report you can put in front of whoever asks. Free, and the answers never leave your browser unless you ask for the report by email.
GAGE (Global Academy of Generative-AI Education) is a private education company, not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Department of Labor. DOL does not certify or endorse training programs. Framework summaries are drawn from the public TEN 07-25 document. Read TEN 07-25 on dol.gov. Last verified: August 20, 2026.
Last verified against the DOL source: August 20, 2026. What changed