Key takeaways

• Workers may need to update their skills more frequently as AI changes their tasks and occupations.
• Reskilling can be challenging when the occupations for which workers are training are also changing.
• Early-career workers may have fewer opportunities to gain experience if AI takes on some entry-level tasks.
• Greater use of AI could affect people’s incomes, career progression, and access to economic opportunities.
• Organizations risk losing valuable experience and institutional knowledge if experienced workers are replaced rather than supported by AI.
• Skills such as creativity, communication, ethical judgement, and relationship-building are increasingly important (alongside technical skills).
• The impacts of AI extend beyond the number of jobs available, affecting job quality, income security, career opportunities, and workers’ ability to adapt.

Plain language summary

AI is changing not only the jobs people do, but how people build their careers. The World Economic Forum estimates that technology could transform 1.1 billion jobs over the next decade, while 59% of workers globally may need retraining by 2030. This means workers may need to learn new skills more often, while some traditional career pathways could become less accessible.

This may be particularly important for people starting their careers. Entry-level jobs often provide the experience and development needed to move into more advanced positions. If some of these opportunities are reduced through automation, younger workers could have fewer ways to gain experience and progress. The authors argue that workers in entry-level positions are particularly vulnerable to this disruption.

AI may also change what employers value. As technology takes on more analytical and routine tasks, human skills—such as creativity, communication, judgment, and relationship-building—may become more important. A survey cited by the World Economic Forum found that 83% of workers believe AI will make uniquely human skills more critical.

These changes highlight the need to look beyond employment numbers when considering the future of work. Income security, career progression, access to opportunities, and quality of work are also important parts of the transition.

Definitions

Livelihood: A person’s ability to earn an income and maintain economic security and well-being over time.

Institutional knowledge: Knowledge and experience that workers build through time spent working in an organization or industry.

Why the results matter

For the public sector

The findings highlight the need to consider income security, career transitions, lifelong learning, and access to employment when developing policies for an AI-driven labour market.

For employers and employment services

Organizations may need to balance AI-driven productivity gains with the value of human experience, knowledge, and judgment. AI augmentation can provide opportunities to improve productivity while keeping people involved in decision-making.

For post-secondary institutions and students

Students may benefit from developing transferable skills that can be applied across different occupations as AI changes the abilities required in the workplace.

For educators, career development professionals, and job seekers

Career planning may need to focus more on adaptable, transferable skills rather than on preparing people for a single occupation.

For people working with underrepresented and underserved groups

Changes to entry-level opportunities and career pathways could create additional barriers for people who already face challenges entering or progressing through the labour market.

For people in the LMI ecosystem

Understanding AI’s impacts may require looking beyond employment and unemployment numbers to changes in skills, income, career progression, entry-level opportunities, and job quality.

For most Canadians

The future of work is not only about whether AI creates or replaces jobs. It is also about whether people have opportunities to enter the workforce, build careers, develop skills, and maintain economic security as work changes.