Survey says only 40% of Canadian workplaces ready for AI

A new survey from Salesforce and Morning Consult has highlighted concerns among Canadian workers regarding artificial intelligence readiness and upskilling in the workplace.

According to the survey, only 40 per cent of Canadian workers report that their workplace is ready to integrate AI tools into daily operations. This figure contrasts sharply with countries like India and Saudi Arabia, where 83 per cent and 70 per cent of workers, respectively, believe their workplaces are AI-ready. In advanced economies such as France and Italy, the numbers are also lower.

The survey findings, which included 1,000 Canadians, align with Salesforce's recent Global AI Readiness Index, which identifies a direct link between national coordination, infrastructure development, and a country's ability to implement AI strategies broadly and effectively.

The Canadian results further indicate that almost half of workers believe that without significant efforts to upskill, many employees risk being left behind by the rapid adoption of AI technologies. 

Canadian workers were also found to be less supportive than their global counterparts when it comes to more AI-related investment. Just 39 per cent of Canadian respondents support an increase in AI investment, in comparison to a global average of 64 per cent. This places Canada among the countries with the lowest support for additional AI investment.

Despite these reservations regarding institutional investment, a substantial portion of Canadian workers are taking personal initiative, with 35 per cent planning to invest in AI skills themselves in the coming year.

Notably, Canada was one of the first countries to establish a minister of AI. However, the survey suggests that workers feel both companies and governments are not acting quickly enough to equip them with AI skills.  

Approximately one in three workers worldwide expects their workplace to increase investment in AI learning over the next year. This trend is apparent in other major economies, too. Just 28 per cent of workers in the United States and less than a quarter in the United Kingdom surveyed expressed confidence that their government is spending enough to support the development of AI-related skills.

"Investing in training isn't just about filling technical roles," said Aliki Foinikopoulou, Senior Director of Global Public Policy at Salesforce. "It's about building confidence, boosting competitiveness, and making AI adoption sustainable. Companies that move slowly risk losing talent and trust. The focus now should be for businesses and governments to scale training, certification schemes, and support to ensure no one is left behind."

Data from the survey reveals that progress towards workplace AI readiness is inconsistent across regions. Countries with coordinated national strategies and robust infrastructure, such as India and Saudi Arabia, exhibit higher levels of AI readiness among workers. In contrast, several advanced economies, including Canada, remain behind on this front, highlighting differences in policy, investment, and infrastructure development.