Canadian Companies Prioritize AI Expertise in 2024 Hiring Strategies

As Canada's businesses gear up for their 2024 hiring campaigns, one skill is emerging as particularly critical: proficiency in artificial intelligence (AI). With the global emphasis on AI growth, companies across the nation, especially in the tech sector, are seeking individuals who can either develop AI-driven solutions or employ them to enhance business efficiency.

The Growing Demand for AI Skills

At the forefront of this demand are jobs that focus on 'generative AI' — a type of AI that can generate text, images, and more. The interest in generative AI has surged since the introduction of ChatGPT by OpenAI in November 2022, causing a flurry of activity among tech giants like Google and Microsoft as they aim to incorporate AI into their innovations. Other firms are also exploring how AI can revolutionize their operations.

The AI Hiring Landscape in Canada

Recent job postings from companies such as Porter Airlines, Johnson & Johnson, Yelp, and Keurig Dr Pepper Canada have illustrated this trend. The listings call for roles like AI engineers, senior data scientists, and machine learning engineers with AI capabilities. While generative AI mentions were present in only 0.07% of job postings at the end of November, it is expected to become more prevalent.

Experts predict a significant shift in the job market toward AI proficiency. Senior economist Brendon Bernard from the job search website Indeed noted that machine learning engineers and data scientists are particularly sought after for their AI expertise. According to Alik Sokolov, co-founder of Responsibli, and Jenny Yang from MaRS innovation hub, the required skill set for candidates is also shifting, with an emphasis on AI integration for a broad range of professional roles.

Prompt engineering, or the skill of inputting effective commands into AI systems, is expected to be an ability shared across many job positions. Hiring strategies are adapting to include roles like chief AI officers and data scientists who can handle such responsibilities, further indicating the central position AI skills will hold in the future workforce.

Canada's Position in the Global AI Arena

Canada has long been recognized as a leader in AI, with vibrant hubs in Montreal and Toronto. It ranks high in terms of per capita venture capital investments in AI and shows promising growth in AI talent concentration. Yet, the competition for AI professionals is fierce, especially with high salaries and opportunities available abroad, leading to a potential 'brain drain' of top talent to the U.S.

hiring, AI, Canada