Why AI training can backfire for older workers

Employers are increasingly investing in training to prepare their employees for artificial intelligence (AI).

Training budgets are growing, and “upskilling” has become a common response to rapid technological change.

AI adoption has moved quickly.

In March, 36 per cent of Canadian workers said they had used generative AI tools as part of their main job or business in the past year, according to Statistics Canada.

About half said they were familiar with how the tools are used, while 93 per cent were aware of generative AI.

Workers are also signalling that they need help keeping up.

A recent survey found that 83 per cent of Canadian workers want or need to upskill to use generative AI effectively.

Employers seem to be responding.

A recent survey by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business found 78 per cent of Canadian businesses planned to maintain or increase training spending in 2026.

But for one large and growing segment of the workforce — workers over 55 — that approach might not work.

My doctoral thesis on older workers suggests that for experienced employees who are already burned out, more digital training is not always the answer.

When training is poorly timed, overly complex or insufficiently supported, it can become an additional job demand.

It erodes workers’ sense that they can keep doing the job and can push them closer to leaving it altogether.

Workers employers can’t replace Canada’s workforce is getting older .