Major Canadian telecommunications companies, including Telus and Rogers, are undergoing significant workforce restructuring to adapt to evolving industry trends.

Strategic Shift Towards Technology and AI

These changes involve reducing positions in core telecom services and expanding technology-focused divisions, particularly those related to artificial intelligence and data capabilities. The goal is to improve efficiency, manage costs, and capitalize on international growth opportunities.

Telus's Workforce Evolution

Telus exemplifies this trend. While the company’s overall workforce increased to 111,500 in 2025 – a 4.5% rise from the previous year – its Canadian employee count decreased as it strategically shifted resources and expanded its global presence.

This growth was largely driven by Telus Digital, its technology outsourcing division, which added 6,100 employees in 2025. Demand for AI-powered customer service solutions is fueling this expansion. However, core telecom and Telus Health divisions experienced job losses, mirroring a broader industry trend.

Global Expansion and Workforce Distribution

Telus is also actively transitioning its Telus Digital business to Canadian leadership and pursuing targeted expansion in key markets to achieve its financial objectives. The proportion of Canadian employees within the company’s total workforce has been declining.

In 2025, Canadian workers comprised 22% of the total, down from 35% five years prior and 56% a decade ago. This reflects Telus’s strategic focus on international expansion and leveraging global resources through acquisitions.

Industry-Wide Adjustments

Rogers, another major Canadian telecom provider, has also implemented workforce adjustments, including those related to its acquisition of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE). These adjustments highlight the dynamic nature of the telecom industry and the importance of adapting to change.