With the goal of reducing discrimination and improving access for people with disabilities, the U.S. Department of Labor released an AI and Inclusive Hiring Framework Tuesday.
The goal, stated in the press release, is to address compliance issues and “barriers to accessibility” as employers use AI to hire. The department published the resources via the Partnership on Employment and Accessible Technology (PEAT) website. The Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) funded the initiative.
The employers collaborating with ODEP “recognize that AI tools can improve recruitment and hiring but may also impact workplace culture and inclusion of disabled employees,” said Assistant Secretary for Disability Employment Policy Taryn Williams in a statement.
PEAT gathered input from experts and from listening sessions in 2023, synthesized that information, and collaborated with the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
The AI in hiring framework has five key buckets: leadership over AI implementation; hiring managers and their duty regarding diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility; IT accessibility; risk management with vendors; and legal compliance.
DOL also provides resources for job-seekers and workers, and accessing AI governance and risk management experts.
PEAT and ODEP outlined notes for getting started, including:
- One, start with one focus area that makes the most sense.
- Two, feel free to skip around. “You do not need to complete a Focus Area before moving to a new one,” the resource said.
- And ultimately: “You do not need to tackle everything at once.”
Notably, DOL released this resource a few days before October, which is National Disability Employment Awareness Month.
