USCCB Labor Day statement focuses on young, challenges of AI

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has released a statement for the 2026 Labor Day holiday.

Signed by Archbishop Shelton J. Fabre of the Archdiocese of Louisville, chairman of the USCCB Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, the statement is particularly focused on “young people and vulnerable communities who face uncertainty in today’s economy.”

Archbishop Fabre summarizes some of the economic obstacles that many of today’s workers faced, particularly young people, communities of color, and those seeking to start families. He then calls attention to Magnifica Humanitas, the first encyclical of Pope Leo XIV and its presentation of “the new challenges arising from AI.” He writes:

“Pope Leo expressly acknowledges the great risks of AI for workers: de-skilling, surveillance, rigid and repetitive tasks, reduced agency and creativity, unemployment, job insecurity, concentrated power, and increased inequalities. Furthermore, AI relies on low-wage workers, who are often hidden and who endure harsh conditions, caught in an exploitative supply chain. Pope Leo calls us to work together to ‘design systems centered on the human person and not solely on performance’ (no. 150) and foster an economy that values the God given dignity of each person. Dignified work is not merely about productivity, but also participation in God’s creation. A just economy is not judged on profit alone, but on inclusive growth and protection for the most vulnerable (no. 158). viii”

A ‘shared responsibility’

While acknowledging the “daunting” task that society faces, the archbishop points out the Church’s wealth of social teaching on the question of work and the human person. He offers assurance that the US bishops seek to partner with all in the “’shared responsibility’ to protect the human person and the dignity of work.”

Archbishop Fabre closes the letter by inviting everyone to participate in the building of communities “for the benefit of all,” so that “each person can contribute to the Kingdom of God through their work.”

To read the full USCCB Labor Day statement, CLICK HERE.

Featured image: Students attend a job fair at a high school in Oregon in 2023. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons / Oregon Department of Transportation)