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Research

How AI is shaping the future of work

Artificial intelligence (AI) is destined to fundamentally alter work—redefining tasks, reducing demand for specific roles, and giving rise to entirely new roles. Unlike past technology automation waves that targeted routine physical tasks, AI extends into cognitive work—analyzing data, recognizing patterns, and drawing conclusions. This puts even high-skill jobs at risk of disruption, challenging long-held assumptions about their immunity to automation. 

This research examines the impact of AI on Canada’s labour market using information gleaned from job postings data, Statistics Canada, and a survey targeting organizational decision-makers across Canada. AI is set to transform Canada’s workforce, and employees, businesses, and government will need to develop strategies to address this technological disruption.

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Key insights

In 2024, 57.4 per cent of Canadian jobs were classified as highly exposed to AI. Of these, 49.0 per cent are AI-competing roles where AI can automate core tasks with limited need for human judgment, while 51.0 per cent are AI-augmenting roles where AI applications can enhance human capabilities.

Demand for AI skills is rising fastest in AI-competing roles. This shows that companies are trying to transform these roles—not cut them entirely. Still, as AI improves, some roles could disappear.

Since 2022, industries with high exposure to AI have been demanding AI-related skills at a rate above the economy-wide average, and the gap has widened since, showing how fast AI is changing hiring needs.

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