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Future of work

A curated resource of recent research on trends shaping Canada's labour market.

Entering the labour market during recession can leave lasting scars
February 1, 2024 | BY Rannella, B-O. & Anusha, A.
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Key Takeaway
During economic downturns, work-integrated learning can increase new graduates’ skills and reduce labour market scarring.

 

This TD Bank report suggests that work-integrated learning (WIL) can ease the labour market scarring felt by graduates who must find their first career job during a recession.

During periods of higher unemployment, the job market is more competitive, reducing options for graduates. As a result, those who enter the labour market during recessions earn less at first and have a lower earnings trajectory, even 5 years after graduation. The report refers to this longer-term impact as scarring.

The study reveals that WIL—which —helps graduates improve their skills, makes them more competitive in the job market, and has a positive impact on their earnings. During an economic recession, it can help graduates reduce scarring by improving their initial outcomes.

WIL can also improve the competitive edge of groups who typically face equity-related obstacles in the labour force, such as women and racialized groups.

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Labour Market Impact

Recent reports about the future of work

New
Developing vocational education and training with artificial intelligence
2026 | OECD Publishing
Key Takeaway: AI is beginning to support vocational education and training (VET) by helping people to identify needed skills, develop training programs, and update qualifications. According to the report, AI works best when it supports human expertise rather than replacing it.
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Interpreting an unfolding future: Is teleworking as common after the pandemic as we expected? And what does it mean for policy?
2026 | Sweet, M., & Scott, D.
Key Takeaway: Using Canadian survey data collected in 2021 and 2023, researchers found that although the rate of telework has decreased since the pandemic, uncertainty remains about its long-term trajectory and its effects on individuals and communities. This uncertainty makes it difficult to plan for the future.
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New
Large language model exposure and precarious occupations: Unpacking relationships in the Canadian labor force
2026 | Jetha, A., Liao, Q., Smith, P., Vu, V., Biswas, A., Smith, B., & Vahid Shahidi, F.
Key Takeaway: Occupations that tend to be stable and secure, with lower levels of precarity, are more likely to be exposed to large language models (LLMs). (Precarious work is characterized by poor employment conditions, such as temporary employment, low wages, unpredictable hours, or involuntary part-time work.) This suggests that LLMs may affect different segments of the labour market than previous types of automation did.
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Workplace artificial intelligence use: A profile of sociodemographic and job characteristics
June 17, 2026 | Hahmann, T., & Lovei, M.
Key Takeaway: The use of generative AI has increased in the workplace, especially in knowledge industries, where many jobs require a university education.
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April, 2024 | Canadian Apprenticeship Forum
Key Takeaway: Canada's apprenticeship system is recovering from the pandemic, with registration numbers on the rise in many Red Seal trades. But apprenticeship completions continue to lag behind pre-pandemic levels, suggesting that some apprentices face challenges completing their chosen journeys.
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January 28, 2026 | Gueye, B.
Key Takeaway: Indigenous-owned businesses employ more Indigenous workers and are associated with higher average employment incomes for Indigenous employees.
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