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For Canadian workers hoping to negotiate a bigger paycheque in 2027, the deciding factor may be less about years of experience and more about the particular skills they bring to the table.
Salary growth is expected to remain modest next year, but employers are making exceptions for candidates with hard-to-find expertise.
According to Robert Half’s 2027 Canada Salary Guide, 55 per cent of employers are offering salaries above their planned ranges to secure top talent, with 61 per cent citing specialized skills as a reason.
“Employers that we talk to are offering higher than planned salaries to secure candidates that have specialized skills that are really going to help support business critical priorities,” says Koula Vasilopoulos, senior managing director at Robert Half.
Unsurprisingly, artificial intelligence expertise is among the skills commanding a premium. Nearly two-thirds (63 per cent) of employers are offering higher pay for relevant AI capabilities, while 32 per cent offer more for AI expertise than for other technology skills.
But the demand for specialized skills extends beyond AI and into more traditional professions.
In finance and accounting, for example, the guide projects average starting-salary growth of 1.4 per cent for 2027, compared with 4.1 per cent for controllers.
“The role of a controller today continues to become more and more integrated with technology,” Ms. Vasilopoulos says. She says that what was once a role focused primarily on accounting and financial performance now increasingly requires software proficiency, data analytics and workflow automation – and employers are willing to pay for that expanded scope.
However, technical knowledge is only part of the equation.
“Problem solving, communication, critical thinking and strategic decision making remain essential,” Ms. Vasilopoulos says.
She says that as AI becomes embedded in everyday work, employers also need people who can apply new tools thoughtfully, use data to make decisions and understand business priorities.
“The ability to work alongside the technology is becoming just as important as the technology itself,” she says.
For job seekers, that means demonstrating not only their technical expertise, but also how their problem-solving, communication and decision-making skills can contribute to business success. Ms. Vasilopoulos recommends making these capabilities clear on their résumés and throughout the interview process.
“There’s a lot of great talent out there, but do they have the right skills?” she says.
Fast fact
Entry-level expectations
63 per cent
That’s the share of hiring managers who say they expect a year or more of workplace activity from candidates applying for openings posted as entry-level, according to a survey cited in Inc.
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