New research from the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute reveals a widening gap between what Canadian employers expect from new workers and what post-secondary institutions are preparing them for. The findings, released through Amii's AI Workforce Readiness program, show the majority of Canadian employers now expect entry-level workers to arrive ready to use AI effectively.

The research — two studies commissioned through Amii's AI Workforce Readiness program, which is backed by $5 million from Google.org — points to a patchwork approach to AI education across Canadian institutions that isn't keeping pace with industry needs. Amii has responded by expanding its AI Workforce Readiness consortium to 55 post-secondary institutions.

"AI is not changing who organizations hire; it is changing what they expect workers to do," said Cam Linke, CEO of Amii. "This research confirms that a patchwork approach to AI education is no longer enough."

The findings coincide with the launch of the Google AI Professional Certificate, a new course from Grow with Google designed to help Canadians build practical, job-ready AI skills. The certificate covers AI fundamentals, research, data analysis, content creation, and app building, and can be completed in under 10 hours. Every learner who enrolls will receive three months of no-cost access to Google AI Pro.

To support equitable access, Google is partnering with organizations including Canada Learning Code, ComIT, and the Canadian Council for Indigenous Business to offer scholarships to people from underrepresented communities.

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