Automation and robotics and temporary work. Risk or new skills?
AI
The growing role of artificial intelligence places temporary work at the center of labor market transformation. Does technology mean job reduction, or does it rather open the way to new specializations and more flexible employment models?
Table of contents
A Transformation That Cannot Be Stopped
Automation, robotics, and the development of artificial intelligence are increasingly shaping the way companies operate in Canada. Machines and algorithms are taking over more and more repetitive and routine tasks. This applies not only to manufacturing plants but also to offices, where administrative processes, document analysis, customer service, and marketing activities are being automated.
According to Statistics Canada data from 2020, about 10.6 percent of Canadian workers were employed in occupations considered highly susceptible to automation, with a likelihood of 70 percent or higher. In addition, nearly 29.1 percent of workers were in the moderate-risk group, with an estimated automation probability of 50 to 70 percent (Statistics Canada, 2020). The OECD report Preparing for the Future of Work in Canada emphasizes that the level of risk is not uniform across provinces. In some regions, technological transformation may affect a significant share of jobs in the coming decades.
Temporary Work at the Center of Change
Although there are fewer detailed data specifically on temporary workers, the nature of this segment makes it especially vulnerable to technological change. Temporary work is based on flexibility and often involves simple or routine tasks. These are the very tasks most easily replaced by machines or algorithms. At the same time, temporary work allows companies to test new technologies and adapt to market changes more quickly. Statistics Canada findings show that occupations at high risk of automation are often those requiring lower levels of education or only basic skills.
Real Risks
The groups most exposed to automation in Canada are low-skilled workers, employees in smaller enterprises, and those working part-time. The IRPP report The Demographics of Automation in Canada indicates that more than 33 percent of individuals without formal qualifications, such as a certificate or diploma, are in the high-risk category. Among those with a bachelor’s degree or higher, that figure drops to just a few percent.
Risk does not necessarily mean immediate job loss. More often, it entails a shift in the nature of tasks, restructuring of occupations, and the need to acquire new skills. For temporary workers, this can also mean less stability and a weaker negotiating position, which during periods of transformation heightens stress, feelings of insecurity, and difficulties in planning for the future.
New Opportunities and Skills Development
Alongside risks, new opportunities are also emerging. Analyses from Statistics Canada in 2021 show that many occupations can benefit from artificial intelligence when it is used to complement rather than replace human work. In such cases, technology takes over repetitive tasks, while people focus on more complex and creative responsibilities.
Workers with higher education are more often in occupations exposed to AI, but these are also the roles with the greatest potential to benefit from new technologies. This indicates that developing digital, analytical, and creative skills is becoming crucial not only for highly qualified employees but also for groups that previously seemed less at risk of automation.
Education and Collaboration as Keys to Success
For Canada to fully seize the opportunities presented by automation and artificial intelligence, close cooperation between government, businesses, and educational institutions is essential. Investments in reskilling and upskilling are critical. The education system needs to respond quickly to changes in the way work is performed, and training programs must focus on the competencies of the future.
Public policies also need to account for the specific situation of temporary workers. If this group is left out of support measures, the risk of inequality in access to training and adaptation opportunities will become even greater.
Looking Ahead
Automation and artificial intelligence will shape the Canadian labor market for decades to come. During this time, temporary work may play a dual role. On the one hand, it is a segment where the risk of technological transformation is particularly high. On the other, it can serve as a tool that helps companies adapt to new conditions and gives workers the chance to gain experience and develop skills for the future.
The future of this segment depends on whether the flexibility characteristic of temporary work can be combined with investments in skill development. If this succeeds, temporary work in Canada could become one of the pillars of labor market transformation.
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Natalia Roszkowiak
Marketing Project Manager
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