‘To thrive, businesses must balance technology advancements with bold investments in fundamental human skills like mentorship, leadership training, and educational resources’
Most Canadian tech and business professionals feel prepared for the future of work, but a new survey from Capital One Canada shows employers are investing far more in new tools than in employee development.
Overall, 79% of Canadian technology and business professionals feel fully equipped to handle the future of work over the next three to five years.
At the same time, 51% of respondents described the pace of technological integration at their organization as fast, and 17% said they have found it difficult to keep up.
Capital One reported that 43% of respondents said new workplace technology is driving up their stress levels, even as most professionals report feeling broadly prepared for what lies ahead.
Most Canadian workers say they want structured, employer-led training to use AI on the job, not informal trial and error, according to a previous report.
Spending favours tools, not people
More than half (51%) of respondents said their employer has focused most or all of its resources on new technological tools, according to Capital One’s survey of 1,004 Canadian residents aged 18 and older who work full-time in technology or business-focused roles, conducted between April 29 and May 14, 2026.
By comparison, just 11% said the focus has been mostly or exclusively on employee development.
“While the adoption of new technology is critical, it’s important that employers remain focused on the people side of the equation,” said Susan Zettergren, Chief People Officer at Capital One Canada.
“To thrive, businesses must balance technology advancements with bold investments in fundamental human skills like mentorship, leadership training, and educational resources to empower the leaders of the future.”
The AI training gap may be dulling your transformation edge, according to a previous report.
Workers turning to upskilling
Despite rising stress levels tied to new technology, 67% of respondents said they are considering taking at least one action in response, and a third (33%) pointed to upskilling or further education as their preferred approach.
More than half of respondents rated the accessibility (57%) and relevance (55%) of their employer's current training offerings as good or excellent, Capital One found.
Almost half of respondents (47%) said human-centric skills remain as valued at work as they did two years ago, while another 36% said those skills have become even more valued over that period.
According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD) analysis of employer and worker surveys, both training and worker consultation are associated with better outcomes for workers — meaning training alone, without giving workers a voice in how AI is deployed in their role, is less effective.
The OECD also found that training is the dominant and effective employer response to AI adoption, with more than half of workers who use AI reporting they received employer-funded training.
