(20 ILCS 4103/5)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2024)

Sec. 5. Findings and declaration of policy. The General Assembly hereby finds, determines, and declares the following:

(1) The future of work is a critically important conversation for those currently in the workforce as well as those looking to reenter or enter it as Illinois contemplates an equitable economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.

(2) Policymakers at every level of government will be required to deal with the concurrent crises of the pandemic recovery, systemic inequities, and creating good-paying jobs. Policymakers must be able to anticipate the workforce policies and programs needed in the future to combat poverty, inequality, and climate change.

(3) Rapid advancements in technology, specifically the automation of jobs and expanded artificial intelligence capability, have had and will continue to have a profound impact on the type, quality, and number of jobs available in our 21st century economy.

(4) Automation and the rise of artificial intelligence and predictive analytics will have major impacts on industries and their jobs; from the service sector to white collar positions, the impacts will be felt by millions of workers in the United States.

(5) Despite the opportunities and challenges presented by rapid advancements in technology, Illinois is a leader in the innovation and development of technology. Illinois has been an engine of progress, and it drives new products that connect people across the globe, sparking economic growth and building prosperity.

(6) Illinois has a large, diverse, and well-educated labor force ready to meet the challenges it faces.

(7) Innovative partnerships across the private and public sectors need to be created.

(Source: P.A. 102-407, eff. 8-19-21.)