AI prompts Canadians to rethink careers, survey finds

Ten Thousand Coffees has published survey findings showing that artificial intelligence is prompting many Canadians to rethink their education and career plans. The poll also found broad concern about the renegotiation of CUSMA.

The survey of 829 current and former programme participants in Canada found that 54% had reconsidered their educational or professional plans because of AI, while 45% said the technology had made them worry about their job security. Among respondents in post-secondary education, more than half said they had changed their academic focus or programme in response to AI.

Many respondents said they were acting on those concerns rather than waiting to see how the labour market develops. A third had pursued additional professional training, 28% had carried out independent research and 22% had taken part in employer-led AI training. Fewer than a third said they had taken no career-related action in response to advances in AI.

The findings suggest AI tools are already becoming part of career planning for many workers and students. Overall, 62% said they had asked an AI tool for career advice in the past year, rising to 71% among those aged 25 to 29. Fewer than half of respondents over 40 said they had done the same.

Younger people appeared more likely to alter their plans because of the technology. Fifty-six per cent of respondents aged 18 to 29 said AI had prompted them to reconsider their academic or career direction, compared with 31% of those over 50.

Employer response

Among full-time employed respondents, 39% said their employer had adapted well to AI. Another 32% said their organisation had made some adjustments, but not enough, while 7.5% were concerned their employer was falling behind.

The research points to a mixed picture, with concern about disruption alongside a more positive view of the wider economy. About 40% of respondents said Canada was well positioned to compete in the global AI economy and another 40% described the country as neutrally positioned. Only a fifth said Canada was somewhat or very poorly positioned.

On the domestic outlook, 44% said they expected the Canadian economy to strengthen over the next three to five years and 23% thought it would remain the same. Twenty-two per cent said they believed the economy would weaken.

Older respondents were more upbeat about the national outlook than younger ones. More than half of those over 40 said they expected the economy to strengthen in the next three to five years, compared with 42% of those under 30.

Trade worries

That optimism was tempered by concern over trade policy. The survey found that 81% were at least somewhat concerned about the outcome of the upcoming CUSMA renegotiation, including 28% who described themselves as very concerned.

Anxiety was highest in some sectors. Concern reached 93% among people working in HR and recruitment, 92% in retail, wholesale and eCommerce, and 89% in consulting and professional services. The figure was lower in life sciences and research and development, at 53%, and in data science, analytics and AI, at 63%.

The poll also asked who should take primary responsibility for regulating AI. A third of respondents chose the federal government ahead of provincial governments, technology companies, non-governmental organisations and market forces, while 29% said they were unsure.

Mentorship role

Ten Thousand Coffees also used the survey to examine the experiences of people who had taken part in its mentoring programmes. It found that 59% of participants rated the quality of their one-to-one mentor conversations at four or five out of five, and 46% said they were still in touch with someone they had met through the programme.

It also found that 52% of participants felt more or much more prepared to have professional networking conversations after taking part. Half said they felt more confident presenting themselves in professional settings, and nearly half said they had gained a better understanding of their career path and industry.

Participants also reported specific outcomes linked to their time on the platform. Since joining a programme, 28% said they had finished a degree, diploma or certification, 29% said they had secured their first full-time job, 26% said they had expanded their professional network in a meaningful way and 18.5% said they had made a meaningful career pivot after meeting with a mentor.

Among those who completed more than six mentorship or networking sessions, 85% reported what Ten Thousand Coffees described as meaningful career outcomes.

"Canadians are optimistic about their futures, but they're also not being naïve about the impact AI will have on their careers," said Erynn Gauld, Head of Social Impact & Strategic Partnerships at Ten Thousand Coffees.

"Our data suggests many are proactively seeking to update their skills, grow their networks, pivot their career plans or educate themselves in order to stay ahead of these changes."

Gauld said the results also showed continued demand for advice from people rather than only digital tools. "In this period of rapid economic and technological change, Canadians are looking for career advice that goes beyond what they receive from prompting an AI chatbot," Gauld said.

"As Canadians strive to navigate a constantly shifting career landscape, the value of human connection, networking and mentorship will only continue to grow."