‘The real opportunity is learning how to use these tools to strengthen, not sideline, human connection’
Canadian workers are embracing artificial intelligence with more optimism and trust than their global peers, according to an Adecco Group report.
Drawing on responses from 1,010 Canadian employees, the survey found that 86% believe AI is creating more jobs, while 57% say jobs are evolving.
Only 30% have seen or anticipate job displacement, a figure well below global averages.
Trust in AI is also notably higher in Canada, with a trust score of 6.2 out of 10, compared to just 4.5 globally.
Is productivity rising with AI?
Despite the optimism, the report highlights a disconnect between perceived and actual productivity gains. Workers estimate they are saving 203 minutes per day using AI, but employers are not always seeing these gains reflected in output.
Only about half (51%) of employees can confidently measure the impact of their work, and 48% intend to take greater control over their skills development, compared with 34% globally.
Furthermore, 81% expect their employer to integrate AI agents into their workflow within the next 12 months, and 50% are involved in the design of work being reshaped by AI—well above the global average of 30%, finds Adecco.
“AI is integrated into working life and employees are optimistic about the future. But as technology momentum builds, they need to understand how they will fit into the new world of work and start developing their careers accordingly,” the report notes.
Robert Half: training for AI adoption lags behind enthusiasm
While Canadian workers are eager to embrace AI, many are left to navigate the technology on their own. A survey by Robert Half reveals that nearly three in 10 (29%) workers have relied on informal or self-guided learning to adapt to AI tools in their jobs, and a quarter say they have yet to receive any training at all.
Only 21% of the 360 workers surveyed have received formal training or support from their workplace, while 17% say their company is not requiring them to use AI tools.
However, a previous Robert Half survey found that more than four in 10 professionals feel compelled to adopt AI technologies, driven by the need to stay competitive (52%), concerns about job security (47%), and pressure from management (47%).
Express Employment: AI sparks fears for creativity, teamwork
AI is reshaping how Canadian employees work together, but not without raising concerns. According to an Express Employment Professionals–Harris Poll survey, 67% of companies say AI has made employees more productive when working together, and 55% report improved real-time collaboration.
Over half (54%) note more frequent outreach among coworkers for help, and job seekers echo these benefits: 56% say AI improves productivity in team settings, and 51% report easier real-time collaboration.
Yet, the survey also reveals deep-seated anxieties. A striking 89% of companies express unease about AI’s expanding role, with 55% fearing it could eventually replace the need for collaboration altogether.
Nearly half (46%) worry about diminished creativity, and 42% are concerned about declining problem-solving skills.
“Collaboration remains the foundation of successful teams,” said Bob Funk Jr., CEO, president and chairman of Express Employment International. “AI can help by removing repetitive tasks and clearing roadblocks, but it should never replace the creativity and trust that come from people working together. The real opportunity is learning how to use these tools to strengthen, not sideline, human connection.”
