In a recent Wawiwa webinar held on January 14th, we explored the trends driving Canada’s tech talent crisis, and actionable strategies to create industry-ready graduates. The discussion also delved into the most in-demand tech roles and how generative AI is reshaping the skills needed for the future of work.
Watch the Webinar recording now!
The Speakers
Eran Lasser, Founder and CEO at Wawiwa Tech
Eran is a tech education entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience and has founded, managed, and partnered with leading IT firms globally. Over the years, he was responsible for the reskilling of more than 50,000 individuals now working as tech professionals. Through partnerships with universities and training centers, Wawiwa Tech reskills and upskills individuals for in-demand tech professions.
Lissa Matyas, VP, Capacity Building Innovation at ICTC
Lissa Matyas, brings over 20 years of executive experience, catalyzing national and international partnerships between industry, academia and government to drive global science, technology and innovation. Under her leadership, ICTC has empowered over 100,000 people through 36 initiatives focused on upskilling, reskilling, and on-the-job-training.
Canada’s ICT Economy: A Thriving Sector
Canada’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector is booming, with over 45,000 ICT businesses driving innovation – 92% of which focus on software and computing. The sector contributes $125 billion CAD annually, making up 5.7% of the country’s GDP. Over 2.4 million Canadians—11.6% of the workforce—are employed in the digital economy, highlighting its significant role in Canada’s economic landscape.
Each ICT job in Canada supports 1.2 additional jobs, further boosting economic growth. Since November 2019, employment in the digital economy has grown by 30%, far outpacing the 7.1% growth across other industries. However, this rapid growth has led to a widening gap in tech talent, with an estimated 250,000 more skilled professionals needed to meet demand.
If this shortage continues, 11% of tech positions could remain unfilled by the end of 2025, potentially slowing Canada’s economic progress. For job seekers, the digital economy presents a lucrative opportunity – while the average annual salary in Canada is around $70,000 CAD, some tech roles can offer double that amount, making reskilling and upskilling crucial for anyone looking to advance their career.
Who’s Responsible for Addressing the Tech Skills Shortage?
The tech skills shortage in Canada is a multifaceted challenge that requires collaboration across multiple sectors, including the government, enterprises, and educational institutions. Each plays a unique role in bridging the gap between the skills workers have and the skills employers need.
Government
Governments play a crucial role in developing a national strategy that supports the growth of the digital economy through funding and policy. This includes investing in research to identify what skills industries need and working backward to align training programs accordingly. “We need to approach this collectively, with partnerships between government, industry, and academia rather than working in silos,” Lissa Matyas emphasized during the discussion. Countries like the UK, Germany, and France have embraced apprenticeship models that foster collaboration between employers, training institutions, students, and governments, with funding playing a key role in their success. These programs ensure that learning is directly tied to job readiness. An important part of this strategy is attracting highly skilled immigrants who can fill gaps in the workforce, contributing their expertise to support innovation and growth.
Enterprises
Enterprises must actively communicate their talent needs to educational institutions and support lifelong learning initiatives within their organizations. As tech advancements continue to shift job requirements, it’s essential to normalize reskilling and upskilling as part of a career journey. “Reskilling someone from another profession into tech can double their earning potential,” said Eran Lasser, highlighting the transformative power of tech careers. Companies that partner with universities and vocational training centers to create hands-on, role-based curricula help ensure that graduates are prepared to contribute from day one. “Employers should be directly involved in shaping advisory boards to ensure programs meet their actual needs,” Eran added when discussing the importance of industry partnerships.
Universities and Training Centers
Educational institutions must adapt by integrating job-oriented skills into their academic programs. This means shifting from purely theoretical curricula to ones that prepare students for real-world roles in tech. Programs need regular updates to reflect industry changes and ensure graduates can hit the ground running. Additionally, forming advisory committees with industry leaders can provide valuable feedback to make learning more aligned with the specific market needs. “Lifelong learning is a necessity for staying relevant in the digital economy,” Lissa noted, highlighting the importance of continuous education.
Ultimately, closing the tech skills gap depends on building strong partnerships between governments, enterprises, and educational institutions. By aligning academic curricula with industry needs, fostering lifelong learning, and securing adequate funding, Canada can develop a workforce that is agile, adaptable, and equipped for the future of tech.
In-Demand Tech Roles: Preparing for an AI-Driven Future
The rapid integration of AI into every aspect of technology has reshaped the job market, making AI-related roles some of the most sought-after in Canada’s digital economy. This highlights the importance of cultivating technical skills, adaptability, and a commitment to lifelong learning.
AI is everywhere, but the role of AI Software Developers is still evolving. These professionals must have strong coding skills and understand how to integrate AI frameworks and tools effectively into their work. This includes adopting AI-based software development methodologies to build smarter, more efficient systems. “AI-based software development methodologies will soon become the norm, just like object-oriented programming did,” Eran predicted.
In parallel, cybersecurity remains a critical concern, requiring all developers to have secure coding skills to protect AI-driven applications from threats and vulnerabilities.
Data continues to be the lifeblood of innovation, with AI embedded in almost every tech function. The ability to analyze data is no longer confined to specialized roles – it’s a crucial skill across all positions, enabling better decision-making and optimization. Data Analysts and Engineers who can interpret complex data sets and build AI-enhanced solutions are in high demand. Equally important are Product Managers who can bridge the gap between technical teams and stakeholders, ensuring that products meet user needs.
In addition to technical expertise, employers are increasingly seeking candidates with strong soft skills who can adapt to different work environments and understand cultural nuances, particularly in Canada’s diverse workforce. Tech professionals must be able to communicate effectively, collaborate across teams, and continually update their skills to stay relevant. The ability to learn and grow continuously is a necessity in a fast-paced, AI-driven world where change is constant.
Recommendations for Universities, Training Centers, and Colleges to Address the Tech Talent Shortage in Canada
To address the tech skills gap and prepare students for the job market, educational institutions must adopt a forward-thinking approach. A key recommendation is to collaborate with their continuous learning departments to develop programs that upskill current talent and reskill new talent entering the tech industry.
Career-oriented programs should be at the heart of this effort. These programs must go beyond theory and emphasize hands-on, practical experience that mirrors real job responsibilities. From coding projects and data analysis challenges to collaborative product management exercises, experiential learning helps students build the job-ready skills that employers seek. Strong partnerships with industry can further enhance these programs by providing mentorship, internship opportunities, and insights into market needs.
Finally, institutions should establish advisory committees comprising tech industry leaders who can offer feedback on curriculum updates to ensure they remain aligned with market demands. By bridging the gap between academic learning and job readiness, universities, training centers, and colleges can empower graduates to thrive in the evolving tech landscape.
