Future of work
A curated resource of recent research on trends shaping Canada's labour market.
Looking at eight countries, including Canada, this study investigates how firms, workers and worker representatives are adapting to the impact of artificial intelligence (AI). Based on nearly 100 case studies from workplaces in the manufacturing and finance sectors, this research looks at the impact of AI technologies on job quantity, job quality and worker requirements. Although AI is impacting a growing number of tasks and workers, the case studies suggest that employment has remained steady, that job reorganization is more prevalent than job displacement, and that AI has improved job quality through the automation of tedious tasks. However, AI technologies often demand both higher skills and broadened skill sets (e.g., sharpened analytical skills, improved interpersonal skills and new subject-specific knowledge such as data science). As well, an increase in work intensity has been brought on by higher performance targets. The report concludes with a discussion of policies and factors that shape the impacts of AI technologies on workplaces, including worker voice, training, and government policy and regulation.