Young Canadians seeking work in software development and other coding-intensive fields face slower hiring, but new Statistics Canada research cautions against attributing the decline to artificial intelligence.
The agency’s study, released October 28, found no broad evidence that AI has substantially reduced hiring or increased job separations in Canada so far, including among younger workers.
For employees aged 15 to 29 in coding-intensive occupations, the hiring rate fell from 2.5% in the six months leading up to November 2022 to 1.9% in the six months leading up to August 2026.
However, that slowdown began in early 2022, before ChatGPT’s public launch. Hiring also weakened in occupations with less potential exposure to AI.
The findings draw on Labour Force Survey data from January 2006 through August 2026. They suggest weaker youth employment growth may reflect slower recruitment rather than faster departures from jobs.
In a November 3 Canadian Press interview, study co-author Tahsin Mehdi pointed to pandemic-era hiring as one possible explanation for the subsequent slowdown in coding-related work.
“Often people sort of mischaracterize that as an AI effect, when in reality it could have been firms just simply adjusting their workforce,” Mehdi said.
The Canadian Press also spoke with Viet Vu, manager of economic research at Toronto Metropolitan University’s The Dais, who highlighted young workers’ concern about losing the first job opportunity that connects education to a longer career.
The research does not rule out future disruption. Its authors describe the findings as early evidence and call for continued monitoring as AI adoption accelerates.