AI and Employment in Quebec: Resilient Careers, Emerging Careers, and How to Adapt

Artificial intelligence is redefining Quebec's job market at a speed that surprises even experts. According to the Institut du Quebec, 810,000 people (18% of the workforce) hold positions vulnerable to automation. Even more striking: the Institut de la statistique du Quebec estimates that nearly 6 out of 10 Quebec workers hold jobs highly exposed to AI (source: ISQ, February 2026). But exposure does not mean elimination. Understanding which careers are at risk, which are resilient, and which are emerging is essential for navigating this transition.

The State of AI in Quebec in 2026

Montreal is the world's third-largest AI ecosystem, after San Francisco and London. MILA (Quebec AI Institute), led by Yoshua Bengio, Google, Meta, and Samsung laboratories, and over 48,000 workers in the metropolitan AI ecosystem (source: Montreal International, 2024) make Quebec a key player.

In 2026, 93% of recruiters use AI for pre-screening applications, and 66% use it for automated pre-sorting. Enterprise AI adoption is accelerating across all sectors, from finance to healthcare to retail.

At-Risk Careers

Some positions are more vulnerable than others to AI-driven automation:

High Risk

• Administrative assistants: Data entry, scheduling, and correspondence management are largely automatable by generative AI tools
• Accounting auditors: AI software can analyze thousands of transactions in seconds
• First-level customer service agents: AI chatbots already handle a growing proportion of simple requests
• Standard document translators: AI translation tools (DeepL, Google Translate) have reached remarkable quality levels
• Data entry clerks: OCR and AI make these positions largely obsolete

Differentiated Impact

AI's impact is not uniform. In Quebec, 71% of jobs held by women are in professions highly exposed to AI, compared to 49% for men (source: Le Soleil, February 2026). Office, administrative, and service jobs are more affected than manual or creative jobs.

AI-Resilient Careers

Some careers naturally resist automation thanks to their human, creative, or physical component:

• Healthcare professions: Nurses, doctors, physiotherapists. AI assists but does not replace clinical judgment and human empathy.
• Construction trades: Electricians, plumbers, carpenters. Physical work in variable environments remains very difficult to automate.
• Teaching: Teachers combine knowledge transmission, group management, and socio-emotional development.
• Creative professions: Designers, artists, marketing strategists. Even though AI generates content, creative direction and aesthetic judgment remain human.
• Social work and psychology: Active listening, empathy, and contextual judgment are deeply human skills.

Careers Emerging Thanks to AI

The AI revolution is creating new roles that didn't exist 5 years ago:

1. Prompt Engineer

Designs and optimizes instructions given to AI models for the best results. This role requires a fine understanding of language and model logic. Salary: $80,000 to $130,000 CAD.

2. AI Ethics Specialist

Ensures AI systems are fair, transparent, and compliant with regulations. Quebec's Ethics Commission is actively working on these issues.

3. AI Model Trainer

Prepares, cleans, and annotates data used to train machine learning models. This role is essential for the quality of AI outputs.

4. Enterprise AI Integrator

Supports organizations in AI adoption: identifying use cases, selecting tools, training teams, and managing change.

5. Algorithm Auditor

Verifies that AI algorithms don't produce bias, discrimination, or undesirable results. An increasingly demanded role with Law 25 and upcoming regulations.

How to Adapt to the AI Revolution

For Workers

• Learn to use AI: Rather than fearing AI, master it. Workers who can use AI in their daily tasks are more productive and more employable.
• Develop your human skills: Critical thinking, creativity, emotional intelligence, and communication. These are the skills AI cannot replicate.
• Train continuously: AI, data analysis, and digital tool courses are accessible online and often free (Coursera, edX, Google AI).
• Specialize: Generalists are more vulnerable. Deep expertise in a specific area makes you harder to replace.

For Companies

• Invest in training: Train your existing teams rather than simply replacing positions with AI.
• Adopt AI as a tool, not a replacement: The best results come from human-AI collaboration, not substitution.
• Anticipate impacts: Assess which positions will be affected and prepare transition plans for your employees.

The Outlook for Quebec

Contrary to fears, specialists estimate that in 2026-2027, AI is not causing net job losses in Quebec. On the contrary, companies are hiring to integrate these technologies. The real risk is not being replaced by AI, but being replaced by someone who knows how to use AI.

Quebec's tech sector continues to grow, with an unemployment rate below 3.5%. The most in-demand tech jobs include roles directly related to AI, but also traditional positions transformed by these technologies.

At VALO, we recruit tech profiles shaping the future: AI engineers, data specialists, developers, and technology project managers. Browse our openings to join companies at the forefront of innovation.

To prepare for an AI-transformed job market, Steppia uses AI to analyze your profile, optimize your resume, and prepare you for interviews at the most innovative companies.

Read also: Future-proof careers in Quebec: 2030 outlook | Recruiting the best AI talent | Tech salary guide