What happened to fallback and bridge jobs in Canada?!

For this week’s Top Story, we’re looking at the jobs Canadians fall back on for employment security—and if there really is a sure thing for work.

With changes in the Canadian job market, employment security isn’t what it used to be. Cue the dramatic music. Now, more than ever, Canadians are taking pauses from traditional careers and corporate climbing as the world of work has changed and instead are entering “bridge jobs,” “default jobs” or “fallback jobs.” These are well-paying gigs that require little to no training, like sales, admin or union-protected entry work. They’re out there, but where? And what does taking one mean for your career down the road?

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We spoke with two experts, a coach and a hiring manager to get insight on fallback jobs to consider if a career change is on the horizon for you. Or if you’ve already decided you need a shift but still need to pay the bills while working towards a long-term goal, you’ve come to the right place.

Sooo, what’s everyone doing for money these days?

Today, Canadians of all ages are pursuing fallback jobs that don’t require a lot of prior training or schooling yet provide decent income, often through commission, tips and self-employment. There are many options, but the most popular ones are in sales and business management, account management, freelance digital marketing, recruiting, serving, emergency services, childcare, tutoring and teaching to name a few.

We’re all facing a higher cost of living, whether it comes from that fifth pumpkin-spice latte this week, credit card debt, child care expenses—or just basic grocery bills and housing costs. And the old way of working (having the same career your whole life) is rare. Quality of life and values around what matters outside of money are huge factors in career shifts.

With the rise of AI and employment market changes, many of the traditional go-tos (real estate, serving, creating content, sales jobs, customer service) are losing their status as dependable interim jobs.

“Market changes are making these roles less lucrative,” says Deborah Glasser, founder and career coach at Pathfinder Consulting, which provides job search and career coaching for university students and young professionals.

With retail activity moving online and the rise in accessible platforms such as Canva or Chat GPT for design and copywriting, both individuals and small businesses have the ability to do the work themselves without needing to hire more people.

In 2026, job competition is fierce, particularly for any entry-level positions. The two factors causing this spike in competition include the significant increase in remote jobs and the impact of AI helping candidates elevate their resumes, cover letters and application responses.

Remote opens up a role to not just individuals in a city but, in some cases, to candidates in an entire country. That gives companies a much bigger pool to pull from, as well as a bigger slush pile of applications to process. According to the recruitment website jobs.ca, 73% of job openings receive over 250 applications in the first week of posting. So, it is harder to get noticed.

Just where exactly are these new bridge roles and how do you find them?

When it comes to bridge roles available, examples include inside sales, customer service and success, administrative and coordination roles, project management, implementation and change management, bookkeeping and payroll, social media and content creation, virtual assistants, e-commerce and resale and options like ride-share delivery and other gig work.

These roles allow people to earn from expertise they already have, rather than starting over, and can offer quicker access to income, flexible schedules and acquiring transferable skills.

However, you’ll need to consider commissions, taxes, unpaid hours, transportation, equipment and the absence of benefits when adopting them, says Mariam Khan, talent acquisition manager at Savaria.

More experienced professionals are exploring contract work, fractional consulting and entrepreneurship instead of relying on the permanent job market.

An HR, finance, marketing, operations, technology or sales professional may support several small businesses on a part-time or project basis instead of working for one employer full-time. This can provide income while you search for a permanent position, but it can also become a longer-term career model.

How to find your fallback job

When hunting fallback roles, Khan recommends looking at LinkedIn, Indeed, the Government of Canada Job Bank, industry associations, consulting marketplaces and specialized recruitment agencies. Temporary staffing firms can also be useful for project work, administrative, finance, HR and operational assignments.

Job boards should be only one part of the strategy. Other avenues to secure a fallback job include: contacting former employers and professional connections, joining industry and local business groups, approaching startups and small businesses directly with what you can offer them, and talking in person to people about your job search when you come across them. Interim work is often found through visibility and relationships, so get out there and talk to people.

“Whether one is waiting tables, doing freelance work, or babysitting while looking for the next full-time move, the idea is to illustrate one’s persistence, hard work and developing key skills to take further into your career through building networks, building skills in confidence, communication, sales and branding,” says Glasser.

Basically, whatever you are doing, do your best at it to make a lasting impact, so you acquire references and referrals along the way. Because the strength of your network speaks volumes as you move into a different phase of your career.

Read more from this issue of The Get:

1. Should you ask Meta’s Muse to help manage your money?
2. Money coach Gina Judge on how to conquer a scarcity mindset
3. The real costs of daylight saving time for Canadians
4. Is cash still king? The pros and cons of fiat currency