AI Isn’t Replacing Jobs. It’s Rewriting Them, Experts Tell Canadian Workforce Webinar
June 9, 2026 — Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing how people work far more than it is eliminating jobs, according to experts who spoke at a recent Future Skills Centre webinar on the future of work in Canada.
The discussion featured Dr. Anne-Lore Fraikin, Associate Director of Economic Research at Signal49 Research; Viet Vu, Manager of Economic Research at The Dais; Réjean Roy, Director of Training and Knowledge Mobilization at IVADO; and Dr. Tricia Williams, Director of Research, Evaluation and Knowledge Mobilization at FSC. The session was moderated by Steve Richter, Manager, Policy at FSC.
Panelists emphasized that AI’s impact is best understood through the tasks people perform rather than the occupations they hold. While professions such as law, human resources, and finance are unlikely to disappear, many routine responsibilities within those roles are already being automated.
“AI is transforming jobs rather than replacing workers,” said Fraikin, noting that employers increasingly value workers who can combine AI literacy with human-centred skills such as communication, judgment, adaptability, creativity, and problem-solving.
Preparing workers for an AI-enabled economy
The webinar highlighted early findings from forthcoming research from the Survey on Employment and Skills, showing that AI use among Canadian workers continues to rise, with many reporting gains in productivity and creativity.
Speakers noted a growing gap between AI adoption and workplace support.. While workers are increasingly experimenting with AI tools, many report receiving little formal guidance or training on how to use them responsibly and effectively. Panelists stressed that long-term success will depend on strengthening both human and technical skills, ensuring workers can collaborate with AI rather than simply use it.
The business case for AI adoption
The panel also discussed the challenges facing employers. Many organizations, particularly small and medium-sized businesses, continue to face barriers to AI adoption, including cost, privacy concerns, uncertain returns on investment, and difficulty finding AI-ready talent. Rather than viewing AI primarily as a cost-cutting tool, panelists said employers should see it as an opportunity to improve productivity, redesign business processes, and strengthen workforce capabilities.
The webinar’s central message was clear: the future of work will be shaped not by widespread job loss, but by how successfully workers, employers, educators, and policymakers adapt to a rapidly evolving AI-enabled economy.