Ontario’s job market is undergoing a dramatic shift, and with youth unemployment reaching its highest level in two decades, experts are pointing to artificial intelligence (AI) as a vital tool for job seekers to stay competitive. According to a recent Indeed survey, Canadian job postings are down 22 per cent year-over-year, with youth unemployment sitting at a staggering 14 per cent.
To adapt to this harsh employment landscape, organizations like Growclass are helping young people harness AI not as a shortcut, but as a support system. Sarah Stockdale, CEO of Growclass, says the focus is on teaching recent graduates how to effectively use AI to polish resumes, structure portfolios, and simulate job interviews—without replacing human effort and critical thinking.
“We’re preparing grads for what can only be described as a very strange environment,” said Stockdale. “AI isn’t a magic bullet. If young people rely on it to do their thinking, they’ll enter the workforce lacking core skills.” She warned that overreliance on AI is already evident in resumes filled with AI-generated text that lacks personal insight or authenticity.
Instead, she encourages job seekers to use AI to practice interviews, analyze job listings, and simulate conversations with hiring managers. “It can function as your coach,” she said. “With the right prompts, AI can help you think like the person who might hire you.”
Efforts to improve AI literacy are gaining momentum, especially with support from tech giants like Google. The company recently launched a $13 million AI Opportunity Fund to boost digital skills among underserved communities. One of the beneficiaries, Skills for Change—a Greater Toronto Area-based organization—is now expanding its programs to help underemployed individuals better navigate the evolving job market.
Surranna Sandy, CEO of Skills for Change, said Google’s funding empowers both job seekers and organizations. Her team has long been helping communities adapt to tools like Zoom and remote work, and now they are doubling down on AI as a tool for career advancement. “Our sector struggles with digital literacy,” she said. “Now we have the resources to lead in that space.”
Still, Sandy cautioned that while AI is powerful, it is not a replacement for human effort. “There are ethical concerns and AI isn’t perfect. It’s a tool—not a solution. And it’s one that must be used with a critical eye.”
Stockdale echoed that sentiment, noting that old job-search strategies no longer work in the modern economy. “Society made a promise: go to school, work hard, and you’ll get a job. That promise is breaking. We need new tools—and AI, when used wisely, can help us rewrite that playbook.”