Artificial intelligence (AI) is now the driving technology in almost every industry. If this trend continues, we risk losing valuable entry-level job opportunities for young Canadians in the process. In September, the youth unemployment rate for young people aged 15-24 jumped to a staggering 14.7 percent. This staggering rise has been nothing short of a full-blown crisis. Hamoon Ekhtiari, CEO of FutureFit AI, and Catherine Connelly, a professor at McMaster University, are working to educate people on how AI is affecting the employment landscape. They expose the nuanced ways AI is impacting job prospects.
Hamoon Ekhtiari underscored that the reality of AI’s impact on employment is “super complicated. His company FutureFit AI is dedicated to leveraging artificial intelligence to help people better find jobs they’re fit for. Ekhtiari pointed out the old adage that going for a four-year degree would guarantee you a secure, 40-year job career. There is an important expectation that is now being challenged by the rapid development of AI technologies.
This view was echoed by Jennifer Kozelj, who commented that “AI is having a moment right now. The technology has found its way into essential sectors, including hospitals and classrooms, where its applications range from administrative tasks to more advanced functions. As AI is increasingly developed and implemented, more and more workers fear that AI may replace them entirely in designated roles.
Catherine Connelly underscored this point, noting the ways AI will automate certain entry-level tasks. She’s adamant that it is “absolutely not” a substitute for human engagement, especially in roles that require strategic thinking and decision-making. She remarked, “The world of work is changing fast, and workers, particularly young Canadians, are feeling it.”
The recent emergence of generative AI tools such as ChatGPT has ignited conversations around their potential. We know these tools can do a lot more than just write robust code. Consequently, proponents claim that they will decrease the need for human labor in some areas. As Silver pointed out, “Maybe you still need someone to tweak it or look at it closely, but overall, you don’t really need that many people to write it anymore because the generative AI can do it.”
Patterson’s Conservative colleague, Garnett Genuis, has sounded the alarm over our youth unemployment crisis as it continues to deepen. He cautions that this trend will increasingly limit the career opportunities available to young workers. The current landscape underscores the urgent need for strategies to integrate AI in ways that enhance rather than replace human labor.
Though many companies are using AI technologies to enhance human knowledge and creativity, the mood is still cautious. Young Canadians in particular are caught up in the real, legitimate anxiety around AI’s impact on potential jobs. They’re facing an unpredictable job market, adding more pressure to their worries.
