2027 salaries in canada: moderate raises of 3.1% to 3.3%, but strong demand for specialized workers.

MONTREAL, October 13, 2026 – Randstad Canada today unveiled its 2027 Salary Guide. With data covering more than 600 positions across 15+ industries, the Guide makes it possible to compare salary trends across Canadian markets.

across canada, several sectors will be worth watching in 2027. examples of senior-level pay in the guide:

• AI and technology: AI governance specialist (up to $307,100) and AI solutions architect (up to $298,400)
• Skilled trades and industry: heavy equipment mechanic (up to $58.90/hour) and millwright (up to $58.80/hour)
• Human resources and technical sales: HR manager (up to $204,500) and technical sales representative (up to $112,800)

AI is accelerating, and trust has to keep up

• 62% of Canadian employers believe AI will transform between 50% and 100% of their teams' day-to-day tasks.
• Yet 46% of talent worry that the gains from AI will mainly benefit company profits rather than employee pay, and 49% will turn down an offer from an employer without a structured in-house upskilling program.

workers are holding on to flexibility despite the return to the office

• Work-life balance is the top reason workers stay in their jobs: 43%, compared with 26% for pay and benefits alone.
• 43% of workers will decline an offer without location flexibility and 44% will decline one without flexible hours, while 78% of employers say hybrid or remote work makes collaboration harder.

hiring scarce skills on tighter salary budgets

• Base salary increase budgets have cooled to an average of 3.1% to 3.3%, and just 4% of Canadian companies still plan across-the-board increases for all staff.
• In high tech, base increases are slowing, but a distinct salary premium exists for "AI-augmented" talent able to automate business workflows.

balancing cost of living, tariffs and financial discipline

• Companies are facing squeezed margins, caught between U.S. tariffs (5.0% on average on exports) and a Canadian dollar at roughly 71 U.S. cents, which drives up import costs.
• On the worker side, 36% have found or are actively looking for a second job to cope with the cumulative rise in the cost of living.