Statistics Canada released an analysis of artificial intelligence use by businesses in Canada on June 11, 2026. It draws on the Canadian Survey on Business Conditions, which ran from April 1 to May 6, 2026, on a stratified random sample of business establishments with employees. This iteration introduced new questions on changes in training or staffing practices due to AI use, and on the barriers that limit AI use. The analysis notes that "the impacts of the increased availability of AI on employment remains unclear." Parts of it follow, not the whole.
In the second quarter of 2026, 19.2% of businesses reported using AI to produce goods or deliver services over the 12 months preceding the survey. In the second quarter of 2024 that share was 6.1%, and the analysis says it has tripled. Meanwhile 40.0% of businesses indicated the use of AI is not relevant to the business.
Where the Use Is
Businesses in information and cultural industries (42.3%), finance and insurance (40.4%) and professional, scientific and technical services (32.4%) were the most likely to use AI to produce goods and deliver services over the last 12 months. The same three industries led in the second quarter of 2025.
Among businesses in professional, scientific and technical services, the most common applications were data analytics (48.6%) and text analytics (44.2%).
Training and Staffing
Of businesses that reported AI usage in the last 12 months, 44.4% made changes in training or staffing practices due to AI use. 32.0% reported AI-related training for existing employees, and 21.6% reported AI-related training for existing executives.
Among businesses with 100 or more employees that reported AI use, 68.1% reported training existing employees and 51.7% reported training existing executives. Among businesses with 1 to 4 employees that reported AI use, those shares were 24.0% and 15.6%.
The survey counts training. It does not say what the training covered, or whether work done with the tools is now checked any differently.
What Holds Businesses Back
13.4% of businesses reported cybersecurity or privacy concerns to be a barrier that limits the use of AI, the barrier most likely to be reported. Cost came second, at 10.6%. Businesses in information and cultural industries, and in health care and social assistance, were the most likely to report cybersecurity or privacy concerns, and also the most likely to report regulatory concerns as a barrier. By size, cybersecurity or privacy concerns were less likely to be a barrier for businesses with 1 to 4 employees (11.6%) than for businesses with 100 or more employees (30.0%).
Sources
- Statistics Canada. Analysis on artificial intelligence use by businesses in Canada, second quarter of 2026 (Analysis in Brief, 11-621-M). 11 June 2026. statistics office