Canva cuts 1,271 roles as official data finds AI barely moves vacancies

For jobseekers, the two pictures do not fit together. Official statistics say AI is not yet moving vacancy numbers in aggregate. Posting data says demand in exposed occupations has already fallen. China's regulators are starting to monitor that gap.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics added new questions on AI to its quarterly Job Vacancies Survey. The answers landed on 3 November.

Sean Crick is the ABS head of labour statistics. He said the new questions asked businesses about AI's effect on vacancies in August 2026.

Four per cent said AI had reduced vacancies in August. Less than one per cent said it had increased them.

Information media and telecommunications had the highest share reporting an AI-driven decrease, at 16%. Wholesale trade followed at 8.1% and manufacturing at 6.1%. The two accounts of the release disagree on the biggest AI-driven increase. The ABS statement says 10% for electricity, gas, water and waste services. hcamag reports 16%.

Two thirds of businesses said they expected no AI effect on vacancies over the next 12 months. Eight per cent expected a decrease and 1% an increase.

The layoffs point a different way

Chief executive Melanie Perkins announced the restructure in an email to staff on Wednesday.

Perkins called it "without doubt the hardest moment in our thirteen-year history".

Those leaving get at least six months of salary. They keep healthcare coverage for a further 12 months where that benefit applies. They keep their laptops. They can apply for US$10,000 (A$14,000) grants to start their own ventures.

The cuts add to a wave of restructures in the technology sector.

What the posting data says

The International Monetary Fund's Regional Economic Outlook for Asia and Pacific drew on 40 million online job postings across 19 Asian economies. Employer demand in occupations more exposed to AI fell by nearly 10% since ChatGPT launched in November 2022. The report says the decline has stabilised even as AI capabilities improved. It says the effects of reduced hiring are likely to unfold over time.

Regulators start counting

Wang Ruomeng is deputy director of the National Development and Reform Commission's Department of Innovation and High-Tech Development. At a press conference on 3 November, he said China will strengthen monitoring and early warning of AI's job-displacement risk.

The remarks follow State Council General Office opinions on building an employment-friendly development model as AI spreads. China will also push to include new occupations such as model trainers and data annotators in the national occupational classification system.

What is still unknown

Australian vacancies overall stood at 325,000 in August, down 0.9% from May 2026. Private sector vacancies fell 2% to 286,300. The public sector rose 7.8% to 38,700.

The ABS questions capture what businesses say about their own vacancies in one month.