News
October 15, 2026
AI at Work: Mass Job Displacement Is Not Imminent
A new study by IVADO and CRIMT finds that Quebec workers are less concerned about being replaced by artificial intelligence (AI) than might be expected. Rather than anticipating widespread job losses, many are focused on adapting to AI. Their concerns are nonetheless real, particularly when it comes to inequality, privacy, environmental impacts and working conditions.
Montreal, October 15, 2026 – Will artificial intelligence replace workers? A new study by IVADO and the Interuniversity Research Centre on Globalization and Work (CRIMT), with financial support from the Government of Canada through the Future Skills Centre (FSC), offers a more nuanced perspective on how workers perceive AI and its impact on their jobs.
AI is already being used in the workplace, but it has yet to transform the full range of tasks workers perform. Faced with its growing presence, workers are more inclined to develop their skills and adapt than to change jobs or careers.
Key Findings
43% of surveyed workers use AI at work.
64% of AI users rely on it for less than a quarter of their work tasks.
66% of non-users say they simply have no need for AI to do their jobs.
38% of respondents have no specific strategy for adapting to AI. This figure falls to 18% among AI users, compared with 54% among non-users.
The Future of Work Is About More Than Job Loss
Workers recognize that AI can both replace and complement human work. While it can automate certain tasks, it can also help people work faster or in new ways. When workers anticipate being fully replaced by AI, they generally see this as a prospect that could materialize within the next 5 to 30 years. Their concerns also extend beyond job security to the quality of work itself, including wages, autonomy, work intensification and how productivity gains are shared. The question, therefore, is not simply whether AI will eliminate jobs, but how it will reshape work—and who will benefit from that transformation.
The findings also highlight the important role organizations can play in helping workers navigate these changes. Organizational support is associated with greater access to training, stronger AI literacy and more opportunities for workers to participate in decisions about how AI is implemented and used.
“The decision to adopt AI at work—or not—depends on more than the technology itself or the type of job a person holds,” says Éliane Racine, research professional at CRIMT and lead researcher on the study. “It also depends on the support and guidance available to workers.”
“The future of work with AI is not set in stone. We can choose to develop AI that works for workers, AI that enhances human capabilities rather than simply seeking to automate tasks,” says Réjean Roy, Director of Training and Knowledge Mobilization at IVADO. “That means giving workers the tools they need to understand these changes, develop their skills and take part in the decisions that will shape their working lives.”
Webinar to Explore the Findings
On Tuesday, November 10, at 12:30 p.m., IVADO and CRIMT will present the study’s key findings in a webinar examining how artificial intelligence is entering the workplace. The discussion will also explore the implications for workers, organizations and public policy.
Information and registration: https://www.crimt.net/2026/10/13/webinaire-du-crimt-lintelligence-artificielle-vue-par-les-travailleurs-et-travailleuses-perceptions-et-incidences-professionnelles/
About the Study
The study combines an analysis of 94 posts from Canadian Reddit discussion forums with a survey of 1,015 Quebec workers enrolled in the Léger Opinion (LEO) panel. The survey was conducted from June 26 to July 2, 2026.
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About IVADO
IVADO is Canada’s largest interdisciplinary consortium dedicated to research, training and knowledge mobilization in artificial intelligence. Led by the Université de Montréal and supported by four university partners—Polytechnique Montréal, HEC Montréal, Université Laval and McGill University—it brings together a broad research community alongside academic, government and industry partners. IVADO works to advance the adoption and development of robust, reasoning and responsible AI for the benefit of society. https://ivado.ca/
About CRIMT
The Interuniversity Research Centre on Globalization and Work (CRIMT) brings together researchers from universities in Quebec and abroad. Its work focuses on the theoretical and practical challenges arising from transformations in work and employment. www.crimt.net
About the Future Skills Centre
The Future Skills Centre (FSC) is an independent Canadian applied research and innovation organization established in 2019. It works to prepare workers and employers for economic and technological change.
https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/programs/future-skills/centre.html
Media Contacts and Interview Requests
Hélène Ganzmann, Communications and Public Affairs Advisor, CRIMT
helene.ganzmann@umontreal.ca
514 452 2076
Sandra Estrela, Communications Advisor, IVADO
438 824 7244
