The American job market is in crisis. As white-collar, STEM workers struggle to find stable employment, tech companies continue their cycle of mass hiring and layoffs, leaving thousands searching for work. Meanwhile, job seekers face increasing hurdles—fake job postings, opaque hiring practices, and a lack of protections for those seeking work. Our workforce needs real solutions, and it’s time for legislative action to fix these systemic problems. While there has been much attention given to the recent federal jobs lost, little to no action has been taken to correct the white-collar recession that has been playing in the background for the last two years. Due to the scarce number of actual jobs available compared to the number of unemployed tech workers applying to each of those jobs, we’re not getting back to work any time soon without a clear plan going forward, one that should involve the support of our representatives, oversight and accountability, and technology to detect fraudulent hiring practices.

Below are legislative proposals that would quickly correct some of the most prevalent issues we see today in the current job market. The first step should be a sharp correction to address fake job postings and companies that are manipulating economic indicators, inflating their perceived growth, or creating the illusion of a strong job market. This proposed correction will elucidate a true number of legitimate jobs that are available to those out of work. Next, we need accountability and oversight in each state to monitor, investigate, and incentivize companies to hire back American workers and boost this economy.

Empowering Workers Through Upskilling and Reskilling

The rapid evolution of technology has outpaced workforce training, leaving many professionals without viable career options. We need policies that incentivize upskilling and reskilling programs to help workers transition into high-demand fields like AI, green energy, and healthcare tech.

Legislative Proposal:

• Expand the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) to include tax credits for employers who provide robust retraining programs.
• Establish public-private partnerships with universities and trade schools to offer affordable or free training for displaced workers.

This would ensure that our workforce remains competitive while reducing long-term unemployment.

Support for Remote Work and Gig Economy Stability

Remote work has become a permanent fixture in the modern economy, but legislation hasn’t caught up. Many remote workers face pay discrepancies, benefit gaps, and job instability.

Legislative Proposal:

• Introduce a Remote Work Tax Credit to encourage companies to create stable, well-compensated remote positions.
• Implement guidelines for fair pay and benefits for remote employees and gig workers to prevent exploitation.

These measures would provide security for millions who depend on remote or freelance work to make a living.

Strengthening Layoff Notification Laws

Too many workers are blindsided by sudden layoffs, particularly in the tech sector. Companies often make record profits one quarter, only to announce massive layoffs the next.

Legislative Proposal:

• Strengthen the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act to include:
  • Mandatory severance pay for affected employees.
  • Layoff notice requirements for remote and global teams.
  • Transparency on internal restructuring plans affecting workers.

This would provide employees with critical time to transition and find new opportunities instead of being thrown into economic uncertainty overnight.

Eliminating Fake Job Postings and Employment Scams

Many job seekers unknowingly waste time on fake job postings—an exploitative practice where companies advertise jobs they have no intention of filling. Some do it to collect market data, while others engage in outright fraud, stealing applicants’ personal information.

Legislative Proposal:

• Job Posting Transparency Act:
  • Require employers to disclose whether a job posting is active or speculative.
  • Impose fines on companies that repeatedly post misleading job ads.
• Online Recruitment Accountability Act:
  • Mandate job platforms (LinkedIn, Indeed, etc.) to verify employers before listing job postings.
  • Create user-reporting tools for job seekers to flag suspicious postings.
• Privacy & Data Protection for Job Seekers:
  • Amend the Federal Trade Commission Act to prohibit companies from collecting applicant data for non-hiring purposes.

Holding Employers Accountable for Hiring & Firing Cycles

Tech companies in particular have created an unsustainable employment cycle—hiring aggressively during growth phases, only to conduct mass layoffs when projections shift.

Legislative Proposal:

• Predictive Hiring Practices Act:
  • Require companies to publicly report hiring and layoff trends to reduce wasteful hiring practices.
  • Encourage businesses to use predictive workforce planning models to prevent unnecessary layoffs.
• Excessive Layoff Tax:
  • Impose penalties on companies that engage in mass layoffs immediately after record profits.
  • Grant exemptions for startups and businesses undergoing genuine restructuring.

Increasing Transparency in the Job Market

The lack of clear, real-time data on job availability and industry trends leaves workers guessing about their next career move.

Legislative Proposal:

• National Job Market Database:
  • A federal, publicly accessible database that shows real-time job openings, industry demand, and hiring trends.
  • Incentives for companies to contribute workforce data to improve market visibility.
• AI in Workforce Planning Accountability Act:
  • Regulate how companies use AI for hiring and layoffs, ensuring algorithms do not reinforce discrimination or bias.
  • Require businesses to disclose AI-driven workforce decisions to maintain transparency.

Federal Oversight and Accountability for Employers

Companies are largely left unchecked when it comes to unethical employment practices, making it easy for them to game the system.

Legislative Proposal:

• Federal Employment Accountability Office:
  • Establish a new office within the Department of Labor to investigate and penalize fraudulent hiring practices, fake job postings, and mass layoffs without justification, this office can gather feedback and alerts from AI tech created to monitor job platforms.
• Stronger Antitrust Enforcement:
  • Increased oversight on tech mergers and acquisitions, which often result in redundancies and unnecessary job losses.

A Call to Action

The current job market is broken, but it doesn’t have to be. We need workers, policymakers, and industry leaders to push for real reform that protects job seekers, creates sustainable employment, and holds companies accountable for their hiring and firing practices.

One way to combat fake job listings, layoffs, and economic uncertainty is to make your voice heard. Contact your representatives, demand action, and help reshape America’s job market for a fairer and more secure future.