A recent report by CompTIA Cyberprovinces™ shows the Canadian tech sector continues to post strong job growth, demonstrated by the nearly 135,000 job postings in 2019. Net-tech employment increased by nearly 60,000 positions in 2019, a growth rate of 3.6% over the previous year, and now totals an estimated 1.72 million workers. Since 2011, net tech employment in Canada has increased by an estimated 282,000 net new jobs. The figures include technology professionals working in technical positions and business professionals employed by technology companies.
The report reveals Canada’s tech sector accounted for 4.7% of the overall Canadian economy in 2019, up slightly from 2018. There are approximately 73,154 tech business establishments with payroll located throughout Canada.
Eight provinces recorded gains in technology employment in 2019, led by Ontario (+31,735), Quebec (15,937), and British Columbia (+12,323). The median annual wage for a technology worker in Canada is CAD 76,471 compared to CAD 54,483 for all occupations.
On related news, Canada Innovation Exchange reports Canada’s hottest technology companies are from Ontario’s Toronto-Kitchener-Waterloo technology corridor. Top Canadian technology companies represent innovative ideas ranging from fintech, data analytics, and artificial intelligence applications to the latest in nanotechnology.
Global firms eyeing Canadian tech workers
With COVID-19 generating demand for e-commerce and other digital business practices, many tech companies have been struggling to staff up. With many offices temporarily closed due to pandemic restrictions, these companies are looking further afield for talented people who can work remotely. That has caused foreign tech giants to eye Canadians at an accelerated pace and triggered plenty of competition for homegrown companies.
A recent story by Tara Deschamps reveals that US companies Microsoft, DoorDash, Amazon, Google, Wayfair, Twitter, Pinterest, Reddit, and Netflix all announced Canadian hiring plans this year, following the tech boom that’s been happening in Canada, the U.S., and worldwide, the demand for tech talent is higher than it’s ever been. Many will place workers in technical or engineering roles and some are also opening new offices or innovation centers to house them.
Still from the article, Ottawa-based Shopify Inc. rang in the year to hire 2,021 technical staff by the end of 2021 and Wattpad Corp. will add 100 workers in Halifax and Toronto.
Since almost every aspect of our lives has become intertwined with technology, it comes as no surprise that IT has become one of the most sought-after career opportunities.
It is never too late to take part in the IT’s hiring spree. Learn new skills today, reach out to us for program details, or email us at [email protected]