AI jobs in Canada – A steady increase from 2018 to 2021, with AI-related job postings reaching their peak in Q4 2021 and a slowdown onwards.

AI labour market demand: steady expansion followed by a slow down

The demand for AI professionals in Canada experienced a steady increase from 2018 to 2021, with AI-related job postings reaching their peak in Q4 2021, with a slowdown in the demand of these postings from Q1 2022 onwards. The demand for professionals with these skills remains below 1% of total online job posting, highlighting the fact that AI jobs, while growing, remain a niche within Canada’s labour market.

Several factors may have contributed to the slowdown in the pace of the demand. While economic uncertainty in 2022 and 2023 led to a reduction in hiring across multiple sectors, including technology and professional services, many large companies also shifted their focus toward internal workforce development, prioritising the retraining of existing employees rather than recruiting new AI specialists. The hiring of new graduates with AI skills has also slowed, with many firms now seeking experienced professionals rather than entry-level hires.

Chosen excerpts by Job Market Monitor. Read the whole story @  The state of AI jobs in Canada: What 12 million job postings reveal about hiring trends