AI will transform Canada's work future

In a recent YouTube discussion, Canadian business leader Goldy Hyder delved into how artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies will fundamentally reshape Canada's workforce landscape. As president and CEO of the Business Council of Canada, Hyder brings a unique perspective on the intersection of technology, business needs, and societal impacts. His insights offer a compelling roadmap for how Canada might navigate the significant workforce transformation already underway.

Key insights from the discussion:

• AI will create more jobs than it eliminates, though these new positions will require different skills, creating both opportunities and transition challenges
• Canada faces a severe workforce shortage with approximately one million unfilled jobs despite unemployment, pointing to a critical skills mismatch
• Businesses need to invest more in workforce training while government policies must better support lifelong learning and skills development
• Immigration remains essential but must be balanced with investments in housing and infrastructure to maintain social cohesion

The skills transition imperative

Perhaps the most compelling takeaway from Hyder's analysis is his emphasis on the scale and urgency of the skills transition challenge. "We need to create a culture of continuous learning," he notes, highlighting how traditional career paths are disappearing as technology reshapes entire industries. This isn't just another incremental change in the labor market – it represents a fundamental shift in how we must approach education, career development, and workforce planning.

This matters tremendously in the current economic context. While many headlines focus on AI-driven job losses, the reality Hyder describes is more nuanced and potentially more challenging: Canada simultaneously faces labor shortages and unemployment because the available workers often lack the skills employers need. The World Economic Forum estimates that 44% of workers' skills will be disrupted in the next five years, yet many education and training systems remain anchored in outdated models.

The business responsibility gap

What Hyder's analysis doesn't fully explore is the significant disparity between large enterprises and small businesses in addressing this challenge. While the Business Council represents Canada's largest companies, SMEs employ approximately 90% of Canada's private workforce yet often lack resources for robust training programs.

Research from the Brookfield Institute shows that small businesses invest 37% less per employee in training compared to large enterprises. This creates a potentially dangerous divide where employees at larger companies receive the r