How the AI ecosystem is creating unprecedented opportunity in Ontario

Something remarkable is happening in Ontario’s AI landscape.
In just one year, the province has seen 17,196 new AI jobs created – more than doubling previous figures with a staggering 101% increase. Private investment in Ontario-based AI companies has surged to $2.6 billion CAD (+69%), and 70 new AI companies have established themselves here (+312%).
These statistics represent real career pathways, economic opportunity, and a transformation of Ontario’s position in the global AI landscape.
The talent story behind the numbers
Vector’s fourth annual Ontario AI Snapshot, produced in partnership with Deloitte, reveals a province that has built something rare – a concentration of AI talent that’s creating real economic value across industries.
“Ontario’s AI talent story isn’t just about numbers – it’s about creating career pathways that didn’t exist five years ago,” notes our research. With 5,605 well-paying positions (+26%) filled by highly qualified professionals from AI-related academic programs and 39,327 AI jobs retained (+8%), Ontario continues to excel at both creating and sustaining AI talent growth.
This represents a 367% growth in job creation since 2019-20, demonstrating that Ontario’s AI sector is creating quality career opportunities, not just volume.
“Canada ranks first among G7 countries in AI talent growth due in large measure to Ontario’s strong and growing concentration of AI experts. Vector’s latest AI snapshot confirms this. The data also indicates that Ontario is becoming a powerful draw for AI companies and investment, providing a direct boost to our economy,” said Glenda Crisp, President and CEO of the Vector Institute.
Navigating the challenges ahead
Despite these impressive achievements, Vector research identifies important areas for continued focus:
+ R&D investment declined 36% to an estimated $560 million
+ Only 51% of companies currently leveraging AI have implemented organization-wide AI strategies
+ Canada has slipped from 4th to 8th place in global AI implementation rankings
This signals both a challenge and an opportunity for Ontario’s continued AI leadership. As Crisp emphasized in her recent Toronto Tech Week address: “We are at an inflection point – a moment where our national story of AI potential must become one of performance.”
Building on our momentum
What makes these findings particularly encouraging is that they demonstrate the resilience of Ontario’s AI ecosystem. Following market adjustments last year, many displaced professionals were successfully reabsorbed into other hiring AI companies – proving that the demand for AI talent continues to grow across sectors.
The complete findings in the Ontario AI Snapshot offers detailed insights into job creation, investment trends, and commercialization metrics.

https://vectorinstitute.ai/ontario-ai-ecosystem-report-2024-25

(Story by Vector Institute Staff)