AI-powered platforms support person-first employment services
AI-powered platforms support person-first employment services
The rate of artificial intelligence (AI) use in Canada is increasing, and the supported employment sector is no exception with AI-powered platforms supporting person-first services and job seeker-employer matches. AI training has also become an important educational component for job seekers, employment professionals, and employers.
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While not everyone is comfortable with AI and many have valid concerns, AI is already embedded in various Canadian sectors and there are indications that it will continue to grow.
The Government of Canada’s 2025 budget invested heavily in large-scale public AI infrastructure and projects.1 In a 2025 KPMG survey of business leaders across Canada, most (93%) were using AI in some form, up from 61% the previous year.2 Almost one third had fully integrated AI across their core operations and workflows.
The career development sector is no exception and has been adapting to this evolving landscape by integrating AI where it can best serve operational and client needs.
In a 2024 CERIC survey of career development professionals, more than half (56%) had integrated AI into their work at varying levels. Of those using AI, half (54%) used it once a week or more for administrative duties and 39% for direct client support.3
Credit: Christina @ wocintechchat.com via Unsplash
Canada’s career development and supported employment sectors also offer AI-powered employment platforms, often combined with service provider support for both job seekers and employers. These platforms can help with skills and interest exploration, skills training, and job matching between job seekers and employers.
AI-powered employment platforms
Explore some of the platforms below, which are free for job seekers and either at no cost or fee-based for employers.
Jobs Ability Canada and Jobs Ability (ODEN)
Jobs Ability Canada is an AI-powered job-matching platform that connects job seekers experiencing disability with inclusive employers across Canada. Built by and for people who experience disability, the platform uses Abi the chat bot to help job seekers build a profile that considers more than just their work history.
Employers can add job postings or link their “Careers” page, which is harvested daily by the Jobs Ability site. Job postings are matched to job seeker profiles, potentially creating a match. Employers can also access various disability resources.
The Our Ability Jobs platform is a public job board that allows job seekers to search for jobs (in Canada and the US) without having to create a profile. At this writing, more than 4,000 jobs were listed in Canada.
Untapped Talent (CCRW)
Untapped Talent is an online job board that connects job seekers experiencing disability to employment opportunities from disability-confident employers across Canada. Job seekers have access to an accessible platform with inclusive job postings and job search resources.
Employers can connect with more than 6,000 qualified candidates (at the time of this writing). Inclusion Copilot offers suggestions on how to make job postings more inclusive. Employers can also use AccessPath to identify how to make their workplace more accessible.
ALiGN (Magnet and Ontario Tourism Education Corporation/OTEC)
ALiGN offers a psychometric assessment that creates a personality portrait for job seekers across Canada to capture their strongest traits and how they can be applied in the workplace.
Employers can use ALiGN to hire candidates based on personality and work styles. They can create job postings that target job seekers whose assessment matches personality benchmarks.
SkillingUp (March of Dimes Canada)
SkillingUp is a free program providing personalized training and support with digital skills for persons who experience disability. Job seekers can access training about accessible technology, digital fundamentals, staying safe online, and digital skills and job readiness, as well as videos on assistive technology.
Employers can partner with SkillingUp for training for current employees and can hire SkillingUp graduates from the Talent Pool.
Employment agencies can partner with SkillingUp to refer clients to the Digital Skills and Job Readiness program at no cost.
FirstWork and FirstWork Aspire (Ontario Government)
First Work’s GPS for Your Career is an exploration-to-employment career navigation platform, powered by FutureFitAI, for youth in Ontario 15-29 years old. The platform offers career exploration with personalized recommendations, a skill-building roadmap for chosen careers, skills passport, training opportunities, and job matching.
First Work engages with employers and sector leaders to help create youth friendly workplaces, articulate skill requirements, and connect job seekers to their local workforce.
Aspire is First Work’s career exploration initiative developed by youth, for youth. It connects young people facing barriers to employment with careers and industries they would otherwise not experience.
Free AI Skills Training
According to the 2024 CERIC survey, three quarters of career development professionals said that proficiency with AI tools and ongoing learning are essential.
When it comes to clients, almost one third (29%) are more interested in using AI tools, 26% have shown more hesitation, and almost one quarter have expressed concerns about it.3
While everyone may feel differently about AI, understanding what AI is, the basics of how it works, and the ethics around it is necessary for today’s workplace. Listed below are free AI skills training options for job seekers and professionals.
For job seekers
- Career Essentials in Generative AI by SkillingUp (March of Dimes) – Core concepts of AI and generative AI functionality
For anyone
- ECO Canada’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) Primer Course – Comprehensive course on AI’s core concepts, cutting-edge technologies, and ethical considerations
- CIFAR’s Destination AI – For anyone who wants to know what artificial intelligence is, understand how it works, and learn more about it
Employment service providers are attuned to the person
AI-powered platforms are a tool that can support job seekers with resumes and profiles and help to create job matches, but they are not a replacement for employment professionals. During discussions with clients, employers, and community members about AI-powered tools, we should remember to emphasize the vital role played by service providers.
In an article on CareerWise, Sonny Wong, who was one of the keynote speakers at Cannexus26, mentions that career development professionals do more than just help people search for and get jobs.
“More importantly, we are skilled at nurturing applicants through failures to help them gain a positive outlook. … our goal is to explore their self-concept before developing their self-marketing tools … We skillfully implement career interventions to help clients navigate the difficulties of the job search to maintain their career well-being.”
Employment service providers are more attuned to the person and their real-time needs and interests. They know what questions to ask and when to check in when a client does not seem one hundred percent. Through professional and thoughtful consideration, they gain insights that help them to focus on strengths and to enhance self-confidence and resilience.
AI is simply another helpful tool that can support person-first employment services.
References
- Department of Finance Canada. Budget 2025 – Chapter 1: Building a stronger Canadian economy. Modified November 4, 2025. Accessed January 23, 2026.
- Canadian businesses adopting AI, but few are seeing ROI. November 19, 2025. Accessed January 29, 2026.
- 2024 CERIC Survey of Career Service Professionals: National Report. October 2024.
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