The Canadian automotive sector faces significant workforce transitions due to multiple concurrent factors. Electric vehicle adoption, tariff implications, manufacturing automation, environmental regulations, and labor relations developments shape the industry’s evolution. Here are 21 Canadian auto jobs most vulnerable right now.
Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) Powertrain Engineers
With Canada pushing hard toward zero-emission vehicles, ICE-focused engineers are watching their job descriptions melt faster than the Arctic. Automakers like GM and Ford have already committed to ending gas-powered vehicle production by 2035. Also, according to a 2023 Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association report, over 60% of current powertrain roles could be obsolete within a decade. For these engineers, it’s EV or bust.
Assembly Line Workers at ICE Plants
Remember when building a V8 was considered job security? Not anymore. Plants focused on gasoline vehicles—especially in Windsor and Oshawa—face existential threats. As automakers shift assembly to modular EV platforms, older assembly roles are being phased out or drastically retooled. And, while the long-term outlook for Canada’s auto industry includes growth in EV-related jobs, the current period poses significant challenges for ICE assembly line workers, necessitating support and retraining initiatives to mitigate job losses.
Transmission Technicians
The average EV has about 1/10th the moving parts of a traditional vehicle, and doesn’t need a complex multi-gear transmission. That means specialists in CVTs, DSGs, and good ol’ 6-speeds might be cruising toward redundancy. Additionally, the aging workforce presents challenges, with 29% of workers in this field aged 50 or older and a median retirement age of 63. This demographic trend may lead to a loss of experienced technicians and a potential skills gap.
Dealership Finance Managers
Canadian dealership finance managers (F&I managers) are facing significant challenges in 2025, making their roles particularly vulnerable. Persistently high interest rates have led to elevated auto loan payments, with the average monthly payment reaching $740. This financial strain has softened the used car market, as many Canadians find it increasingly challenging to manage car payments amidst a high cost of living. And, as buyers get approved online with a few clicks, the backroom office finance pitch may become as outdated as undercoating scams.
Paint Shop Technicians
Automation has rolled into paint shops with the grace of a ballet dancer and the ruthlessness of a Terminator. Regional disparities further highlight areas of concern. In British Columbia, the employment outlook for auto body collision, refinishing, and glass technicians is “limited,” attributed to employment declines and a moderate number of unemployed workers with recent experience. Similarly, Ontario’s manufacturing sector reports a “very limited” outlook for industrial painters and metal finishing operators, with employment declines leading to job losses.
ICE Vehicle Test Drivers
With software simulation and AI doing much of the heavy lifting, the human “feel” test for ICE models is losing relevance. Unifor, Canada’s largest private-sector union, estimates that nearly 16,500 powertrain and transmission manufacturing jobs are at high risk due to the EV transition. The evolving automotive landscape necessitates proactive measures, such as upskilling programs, to ensure that workers in traditional roles can transition effectively into emerging positions within the EV sector.
Muffler and Exhaust System Installers
Here’s a fun fact: EVs don’t need exhaust systems. Not even a tiny tailpipe. Classified under NOC 74203, their employment outlook varies by region. For instance, in the Southeast region, the outlook is moderate, with employment growth expected to create some new positions, though few openings will arise from retirements. Conversely, in the Northeast region, job prospects are limited, with only one job advertised recently. Safe to say, shops specializing in mufflers and catalytic converters may soon find themselves making loud noises about disappearing demand.
Auto Parts Counter Staff (at Traditional Stores)
With EVs requiring fewer parts and more specialized components often shipped directly from manufacturers, the days of walking into your local parts store for a “thingamabob for my Civic” are dwindling. Demographic changes also play a role; younger consumers, particularly millennials, are less inclined to perform DIY vehicle maintenance, relying more on professional services. This trend decreases direct retail parts sales, impacting counter staff employment.
Tool-and-Die Makers (for ICE Platforms)
These skilled tradespeople make the dies and molds that stamp out vehicle parts. But many legacy dies get the boot when platforms shift from traditional architectures to EV skates. Demand is shifting, and not everyone will make the leap. Furthermore, the industry faces a talent crisis, with a significant portion of the workforce nearing retirement and a shortage of new entrants. While opportunities exist in EV-related tooling, companies must adapt by investing in new technologies and training programs to remain competitive in the evolving automotive landscape.
Gas Station Attendants
It’s not technically an “auto job,” but hear us out: as EV adoption grows and gas demand dips, many smaller stations—especially rural ones—are struggling. The outlook in Ontario and Nova Scotia is very limited, with employment decline leading to job losses and few retirements to offset this trend. In contrast, Alberta and Saskatchewan present a moderate outlook, influenced by high employee turnover and a moderate number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation. Additionally, attendants are at risk of health issues due to prolonged exposure to hazardous substances like benzene and toluene, which can lead to conditions such as leukemia and central nervous system damage.
Radiator Technicians
Radiator Technicians in Canada are currently sweating it out—not because of their job, but because their role is getting hotter to replace… by technology and changing car designs! Modern vehicles with advanced cooling systems and electric cars (which don’t need radiators) are nibbling away at their traditional job turf. Also, according to the Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS), demand for specialized auto repair jobs like radiator technicians is expected to decline slightly over the next decade due to vehicle electrification and longer-lasting cooling components.
Auto Auctioneers
The used car market is evolving fast. With OEMs pushing lease returns into certified pre-owned programs and digital marketplaces booming, the theatrical yelling of a fast-talking auctioneer might be heading for a quiet retirement. Plus, electric vehicles—silent and smug—are disrupting resale norms, making valuation trickier than trying to price your grandma’s vintage fondue set. Automation and AI-driven pricing tools are stealing the show, leaving old-school auctioneers clutching their gavels like relics. Unless they modernize fast, they risk becoming the Blockbuster of the auto world—fondly remembered, but mostly irrelevant.
Aftermarket Performance Tuners (for Gas Vehicles)
No one’s ECU is tuning a leaf for the drag strip. As EVs dominate, traditional tuners focusing on gas engines and exhaust hacks may find fewer clients. And it’s not just about EVs. Modern gas vehicles come with more secure computers than your bank login. That means tuning? Tricky. Some manufacturers even lock ECUs tightly than your grandma’s candy jar. In short, performance tuners for gas rides might want to start brushing up on EV diagnostics or start a side hustle selling nostalgic engine rumbles on vinyl.
ICE Engine Rebuilders
In Canada, ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) rebuilders are currently more endangered than a snowman in July. Why? Because the EV (electric vehicle) revolution is zooming past like a Tesla in Ludicrous Mode. According to IHS Markit, EV sales in Canada jumped 44% in 2023, and the federal government plans to ban the sale of new gas-powered cars by 2035. That means fewer clunky V6s to rebuild and quieter, battery-powered machines humming along without needing crankshafts, camshafts, or rebuilders.
Classic Car Restoration Specialists
Classic car restoration specialists in Canada are currently skidding on economic black ice. As much as we love a vintage ’60s Mustang purring down the Trans-Canada Highway, the cold truth is fewer folks can afford such a nostalgic luxury these days. According to Statistics Canada, consumer spending is tightening due to inflation and rising interest rates. That makes restoring a cherry-red 1967 Camaro seem more like a pipe dream than a passion project.
Auto Show Presenters (for Legacy Brands)
As major automakers scale back in-person events and go virtual, the role of flashy auto show presenters has shrunk. Why? First, consumer attention is shifting online—TikTok test drives trump tuxedoed stage reveals. Second, automakers are slashing budgets for glitzy expos in favor of direct-to-consumer techy demos (ahem, Tesla doesn’t even show up). Third, younger audiences are more excited about EV startups than 50 years of combustion history. In 2024, the Detroit Auto Show saw dwindling attendance.
ICE Vehicle Sales Reps
If you’re an ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) vehicle sales rep in Canada, you might want to start polishing your résumé—or perhaps consider a career in electric scooter sales. Traditional ICE vehicle sales are sputtering. A study by Volvo found that 64% of Canadians are considering an electrified vehicle for their next purchase. And with tariffs and trade tensions causing further disruptions, the road ahead for ICE sales reps looks increasingly bumpy.
Manual Transmission Driving Instructors
It’s the end of an era: the clutch is dead. And as electric vehicles surge (basically automatic by default), the humble stick shift goes the way of VHS and phone books. Car manufacturers like Honda and Volkswagen are phasing out manual models in North America. For instructors who built their careers around grinding gears and shouting “Clutch! Clutch!”, the job market is drying up like windshield wiper fluid in January. So, unless there’s a surprise stick-shift renaissance (or a Fast & Furious reboot filmed in Saskatoon), these instructors might need to shift careers, without a clutch. Sorry, driving purists.
Specialized ICE Mechanics (e.g., carburetors)
We salute the dying art of tuning a carburetor with nothing but a screwdriver and a dream. EVs don’t have carburetors, oil filters, or even traditional transmissions. That means fewer moving parts—and fewer mechanic hours. According to a 2022 Deloitte report, EVs require 30-40% less maintenance than ICE vehicles. So, while your grandpa’s garage might still smell like gasoline and dreams, the job market is shifting toward high-voltage diagnostics, not spark plug voodoo.
Dealership Lot Porters
If you’re a Dealership Lot Porter in Canada, you might want to start brushing up on your résumé or learning to code. These unsung heroes of the auto industry, who shuttle cars, wash them, and keep the lot looking snazzy, are being quietly outpaced by automation and shrinking dealer footprints. With more dealerships shifting to digital retailing (hello, online car buying!), the need for in-person vehicle wranglers is shrinking fast.
Internal Auto Industry Journalists (for Print Publications)
Among Canadian auto jobs, internal auto industry journalists writing for print publications are currently cruising straight into a pothole of obsolescence. Why? First, automakers increasingly bypass traditional media, pumping out glossy press releases and YouTube reveals that make journalists look like yesterday’s infotainment systems. Second, with advertising budgets shifting online, auto magazines are thinner than a Smart car’s side mirror. According to a 2023 PwC report, print advertising in Canada dropped 13% annually, with no U-turn in sight.
22 Times Canadian Ingenuity Left the U.S. in the Dust
When people think of innovation, they often picture Silicon Valley. However, Canada has a history of innovation, too. Whether it’s redefining sports, revolutionizing medicine, or just showing America up at its own game, Canadian inventors, thinkers, and dreamers have had their fair share of mic-drop moments. Here are 22 times Canadian ingenuity left the U.S. in the dust.
22 Times Canadian Ingenuity Left the U.S. in the Dust
