‘There’s not a lot of roles out there right now’
Vancouver’s technology sector is facing significant job losses and a challenging employment landscape as artificial intelligence (AI) transforms the industry, according to a recent report.
The rapid rise of the technology has not only transformed business operations but has also upended the local job market, leaving many tech workers scrambling for “survival jobs” outside their field, notes the Financial Post.
Vancouver employed 125,100 highly skilled tech workers in 2024—a 5.2-per-cent increase from 2021—and average annual salaries have risen 21 per cent in the same period, the Financial Post reports, citing data from CBRE Group’s Scoring Tech Talent 2025 report.
Average annual salaries jumped 21 per cent over the same period to $114,192, while the total number of tech roles in the city grew 31 per cent from 2018 to 2023, the report said.
'Huge shift' for tech roles in Canada
Yet, tech job postings have plunged 19 per cent country-wide since 2020, with Vancouver experiencing a 43-per-cent decline, according to the report, citing data from Indeed.
“There’s definitely been a huge shift. There’s not a lot of roles out there right now,” said Bibiana Souza, a software developer who leads the Vancouver chapter of Women in Tech, according to the report.
She notes that lead times have grown between applying for and landing a job. Meanwhile, lower- and entry-level jobs have “disappeared since AI started taking over.”
“The bar to entry is a lot higher,” says Souza.
A wave of layoffs and hiring freezes are sweeping through major corporations in North America, as companies increasingly bet that AI and automation will allow them to grow without expanding their workforces, according to a previous report.
The reduction in available roles has hit entry-level and junior positions especially hard. Big Tech’s new graduate hires have dropped 50 per cent since 2019 and now account for just seven per cent of overall hires, according to the Financial Post. Meanwhile, workers with specialized skills in machine learning and AI are still in demand, with higher salaries offered for these roles.
Many, like Simon Fraser University graduate Ece Eskikurt, have spent months—sometimes years—searching for tech roles, only to end up walking dogs or working retail to make ends meet.
“For each job, I reached out to the recruiters and the companies. They weren’t cold applications. I took all the steps that I could,” Eskikurt tells the Financial Post. Yet, her efforts have largely gone unanswered.
What jobs will AI replace?
Workers can stay relevant if they upskill, according to Nexford University, and employers need to put a prime focus on this to retain workers.
“People must accept that artificial intelligence is becoming a part of our everyday lives. Every job role should embrace it, considering the efficient and cost-effective solutions it brings,” it says.
“To stay ahead in the era of artificial intelligence, it is essential to embrace lifelong learning, develop soft skills, be agile, and specialize in a particular area. By developing these skills and adapting to the changing job market, workers can thrive in the era of AI and take advantage of the opportunities it presents.”
Nearly half of Canadian job seekers fear AI could eliminate their jobs, according to a previous report.
With AI evolving rapidly, even highly educated professionals must engage in continuous learning.
“Even if you have a university degree, what you learn there is not going to last for your entire working life,” says professor of economics Emilio Colombo, in a previous Canadian HR Reporter report.
