National nonprofit Opportunity@Work, in partnership with the Brookings Institution, has launched the AI Readiness Lab (AIRLab), a six-month initiative designed to help regional economic development organizations understand how artificial intelligence is reshaping local labor markets and workforce pathways. The program focuses particularly on workers Skilled Through Alternative Routes (STARs), highlighting a growing need for AI-driven workforce planning that extends beyond college-educated talent.
Artificial intelligence is transforming labor markets at an accelerating pace, but its effects are playing out differently across local economies. Recognizing that regional variation, Opportunity@Work has partnered with the Brookings Institution to launch the AI Readiness Lab (AIRLab), an initiative aimed at helping communities prepare for AI-driven workforce disruption while preserving economic mobility.
The inaugural cohort brings together six regional economic development organizations representing diverse labor markets across the United States: the Birmingham Business Alliance (Alabama), CenterState CEO (Central New York), CEOs of Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP), Greater Cleveland Partnership (Ohio), GREATER MSP (Minneapolis–Saint Paul), and the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation.
Over the next six months, participating organizations will use regional labor market analytics, workforce intelligence, and peer collaboration to develop localized strategies for adapting to AI-driven economic change. Rather than offering a one-size-fits-all framework, AIRLab recognizes that workforce transformation is shaped by regional industries, employer needs, and talent pipelines.
The initiative arrives alongside new research from Opportunity@Work and Brookings that challenges common assumptions about AI’s impact on employment. While public debate often centers on knowledge workers and college graduates, the study finds that more than 15 million workers Skilled Through Alternative Routes (STARs) occupy roles with high exposure to AI, representing 43% of all U.S. workers employed in the most AI-exposed occupations.
The findings are particularly significant because many of these workers hold “Gateway” jobs—roles that traditionally provide career progression into higher-paying occupations. According to the research, nearly 11 million STARs work in these entry-point positions, and almost half of the career pathways connecting Gateway occupations to higher-wage “Destination” jobs are highly exposed to AI-enabled automation and augmentation.
Importantly, the report distinguishes between AI exposure and job displacement. Exposure indicates that AI technologies are capable of performing or supporting significant portions of a role’s tasks, but it does not necessarily mean those positions will disappear. Instead, AI can automate repetitive work, augment employee productivity, and create new skill requirements that reshape career pathways rather than eliminate them.
One example highlighted in the research is customer service. The occupation employs more than two million workers nationwide and serves as a critical Gateway role for career advancement. Researchers estimate that roughly 70% of the tasks performed by customer service representatives are already exposed to AI technologies, making the profession one of the most affected by generative AI and intelligent automation.
The implications extend beyond individual workers. If Gateway occupations shrink or evolve too rapidly without coordinated workforce planning, employers could lose an important pipeline of experienced talent needed for higher-skilled positions. AIRLab seeks to help regional leaders anticipate these shifts before they create long-term talent shortages.
Participating organizations will evaluate the health of career pathways within their local economies, identify competitive opportunities in emerging AI industries—including AI applications, semiconductor manufacturing, data centers, and supporting energy infrastructure—and develop strategies that simultaneously protect existing workforce pathways while building new ones.
The regional approach reflects a practical reality of workforce development. According to Opportunity@Work, approximately 73% of U.S. workers live and work in the same county, meaning labor market transitions are largely managed through local employers, educational institutions, workforce boards, and civic organizations rather than national programs.
This emphasis on place-based workforce planning aligns with broader HR technology trends. Enterprise organizations increasingly use workforce analytics, labor market intelligence, and AI-powered talent planning to forecast skills demand, identify emerging workforce gaps, and support reskilling initiatives.
Technology providers including Microsoft, LinkedIn, Google, Salesforce, Workday, and Oracle continue expanding AI-driven workforce intelligence platforms that combine labor market data, skills analytics, internal mobility, and learning recommendations. AIRLab complements these enterprise technologies by applying similar workforce intelligence principles at the regional economic development level.
Industry research reinforces the importance of proactive workforce planning. According to McKinsey & Company, generative AI has the potential to reshape millions of jobs globally over the next decade, making reskilling and occupational mobility strategic priorities for both employers and governments. Gartner similarly identifies AI-enabled workforce planning and skills intelligence as key investment areas for organizations preparing for long-term labor market transformation.
Brookings Senior Fellow Joseph Parilla noted that while technological transitions are global, their economic consequences are experienced locally, requiring coordinated action among employers, policymakers, educators, and workforce organizations.
For HR leaders, the launch of AIRLab illustrates an important shift in workforce strategy. AI readiness is no longer limited to enterprise technology adoption—it increasingly encompasses regional labor market resilience, career pathway preservation, and inclusive workforce development.
As AI continues reshaping hiring, skills requirements, and career progression, organizations will need to collaborate more closely with regional partners to ensure that workforce transformation expands opportunity rather than narrowing it. AIRLab represents an early effort to build that collaborative framework, providing communities with the data, peer networks, and strategic planning tools needed to navigate one of the most significant labor market transitions in decades.
Market Landscape
AI is accelerating demand for workforce intelligence across both public and private sectors. Regional economic development organizations are increasingly adopting labor market analytics, skills intelligence, and predictive workforce planning to understand how automation affects local employment. As organizations shift toward skills-based hiring and continuous reskilling, AI readiness is becoming a strategic priority that extends beyond enterprise HR into regional economic policy.
Top Insights
- Opportunity@Work and the Brookings Institution have launched AI Readiness Lab (AIRLab) to help regions prepare for AI-driven workforce transformation using localized labor market intelligence.
- New research finds more than 15 million STARs work in occupations highly exposed to AI, highlighting the need for inclusive workforce planning beyond degree-based talent.
- Six regional economic development organizations will collaborate over six months to develop AI strategies tailored to local industries and workforce needs.
- The initiative focuses on protecting career pathways while creating new opportunities in AI-related industries such as semiconductor manufacturing, data infrastructure, and intelligent applications.
- AIRLab reflects growing demand for workforce analytics, skills intelligence, and regional collaboration as AI reshapes labor markets nationwide.
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