Canada has become a global leader in artificial intelligence, driven by research institutes like MILA in Montreal, the Vector Institute in Toronto, and Amii in Edmonton. This reputation attracts massive investments but also creates fierce competition for talent.

The State of Canada's AI Market

In 2026, Canada's AI sector employs over 30,000 professionals and generates revenues exceeding $15 billion. Montreal alone is home to more than 14,000 AI researchers and practitioners, making the city the third-largest AI ecosystem in the world after San Francisco and London.

However, demand far exceeds supply. It is estimated that for every qualified AI candidate, there are on average 3 to 5 open positions. This shortage is driving salaries up and forcing companies to rethink their recruitment approach.

The Most Sought-After AI Skills

Employers are looking for profiles that combine technical expertise with practical application capabilities:

Machine Learning Engineering: Designing and deploying ML models in production with Python, TensorFlow, and PyTorch.
Prompt Engineering & LLMs: The emergence of ChatGPT and Claude has created a new area of expertise: prompt engineering and fine-tuning large language models.
MLOps: Industrializing AI requires automated ML pipelines, model monitoring, and drift management.
Computer Vision: Applications in manufacturing, precision agriculture, and autonomous vehicles.
NLP / Natural Language Processing: Chatbot systems, sentiment analysis, machine translation.

Strategies to Attract AI Talent

Offer Stimulating Projects

AI engineers are motivated by the impact of their work. Clearly present the real-world problems your company is seeking to solve with AI rather than listing technologies.

Provide Flexibility

Hybrid or remote work has become a standard expectation in the AI field. Companies that enforce strict in-office policies are cutting themselves off from a large pool of candidates.

Invest in Continuous Learning

The AI field evolves at a dizzying pace. Offering training budgets, time for technology watch, and participation in conferences (NeurIPS, ICML) is a major retention factor. For more on this topic, see our article on 7 proven strategies for retaining tech talent.

Work with a Specialized Agency

Recruiting in AI requires a deep understanding of technical skills and market dynamics. VALO supports Canadian companies in identifying and recruiting qualified AI engineers, with an active network of specialized candidates.

Pitfalls to Avoid

Some common mistakes slow down AI recruitment:

Requiring a PhD for roles that don't need one.
Offering below-market salaries (a senior ML engineer in Montreal expects a minimum of $130,000 CAD).
A recruitment process exceeding 3 weeks: AI candidates receive multiple offers simultaneously.
Neglecting diversity and inclusion in AI teams.

AI recruitment is a strategic challenge. Contact VALO to build your AI team with the best talent on the Canadian market.

The State of Canada's AI Market

The Most Sought-After AI Skills

Employers are looking for profiles that combine technical expertise with practical application capabilities:

Machine Learning Engineering: Designing and deploying ML models in production with Python, TensorFlow, and PyTorch.
Prompt Engineering & LLMs: The emergence of ChatGPT and Claude has created a new area of expertise: prompt engineering and fine-tuning large language models.
MLOps: Industrializing AI requires automated ML pipelines, model monitoring, and drift management.
Computer Vision: Applications in manufacturing, precision agriculture, and autonomous vehicles.
NLP / Natural Language Processing: Chatbot systems, sentiment analysis, machine translation.