If you booked through Airbnb you can cancel penalty free yourself within the first 48 hours of booking IF the booking is more than two weeks in advance.
The owner shouldn't have called you with such important news but should have communicated through the platform so there was a record and should have cancelled straight away.
I agree with @Mike-And-Jane0 contact Airbnb but if you haven't done so already recap your conversation with the host on Airbnb messaging. You can say something like;
'As per our conversation on XXX. You called me to say you wouldn't be able to accomodate my booking as you don't accept guests who work. You promised to cancel the booking on Airbnb straight away. However it is not XX days/hours later and the booking is still showing as live. As you cannot accommodate my booking please cancel ASAP.