Robot arm

Automation in Canada

In partnership FSC logo English

Français •   April 1, 2021

Two people discussing wearing hard hats

Our leaders need to be ready.

Automation-enabling technologies such as artificial intelligence and robotics will cause swift changes in the skills many industries need. In Canada, one in five employees are already in an occupation at high risk of automation, where transitioning into a lower-risk occupation would require significant retraining.

To design targeted responses to automation, Canadian leaders need a detailed understanding of their region’s occupational composition and demographic makeup. We’ve created the Automation Vulnerability Index for this reason.

Key Findings

  • Some occupations are more susceptible to automation than others. This means certain workers, employers, and industries will face greater difficulty adapting than others.
  • Automation will likely most affect regions with manufacturing legacies and tourism-based economies. Workforces in Atlantic and Western Canada are also particularly vulnerable.
  • No region is immune from the impact of automation technologies. But smaller regions with less-diverse economies are likely to be affected more than the larger regions.
  • Policy-makers must target the causes of vulnerability in their region. Policies may include a combination of upskilling, economic diversification, and immigration.
Toronto Metropolitan University
The Conference Board of Canada
Blueprint
Government of Canada

Back to top