By Shelby Thevenot
MONTREAL, Canada (CIC NEWS) – The high demand for tech talent in Canada is rolling into 2020 as experts start to predict the sector’s outlook for the new year. Shortages in the technology sector labour market have prompted immigration programs in British Columbia and Ontario to step up recruiting efforts. In 2019 the B.C. Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) extended its tech pilot to June 2020, and the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) started holding draws specifically for immigration candidates with tech experience.
“There are not enough [skilled workers] to fill those positions… There’s really a shortage of labour,” Patrick Poulin, president of the staffing division of Randstad Canada, told CIC News. “It’s definitely a key asset to have immigrants coming in to fill those positions. It’s super important.”
Randstad Canada, a human resource consulting firm, released its predictions for 2020 on the top in-demand tech jobs in Canada, as well as in-demand skills, and salaries. The technology sector offers some of the most competitive salaries in Canada. For 2020, the average annual salary is an estimated $81,750.
Low-earners in this field can expect to earn an average salary of $55,000, and the highest earners may bring home $140,000 or more. Tech talent continues to be highly sought after in major urban centres like Toronto, Montréal and Vancouver.
“If you have tech skills (in particular the ability to code in popular languages such as Java, python or various C-based languages) you’ll have your pick of employers in many of Canada’s largest cities!” the Randstad webpage said.
In-demand tech jobs
The following eight positions are expected to be highly sought after in Canada according to Randstad:
- Developers and Programmers
Full-stack developers with front and back end skills are especially sought-after though coding and programming skills are in high demand everywhere. Employers will be seeking skilled developers with knowledge of programming languages such as Java, Python and .NET.
- IT Project Manager
The demand for this position has grown in Canada since last year. Employers are looking for those with project management skills specifically PMP, PMI or Agile Certified professionals.
- Quality Assurance Analyst
Another position that is expected to be in-demand this year. Quality assurance analysts ensure software is user-friendly and bug-free.
- Data Analyst
Data analysts make sense of the massive amounts of information that companies collect in order to run their businesses. Demand for this position is expected to grow as businesses increasingly rely on data.
- IT Business Analyst
Analysts who specialize in tech and software analysis will be in especially high demand this year. Their role is to shape and optimize business systems and software to make them operate effectively.
- Senior Software Engineer
The demand for coding skills and developers is particularly intense at the senior level. Randstad says, “Employers are looking for candidates who already have a lot of experience, rather than hiring and developing their own junior and intermediate software engineers.”
- Network Administrator
Network administrators make sure everything runs smoothly for both employees and customers. They oversee their employer’s IT network and setup, manage servers and network equipment.
- Technical Support Specialist
Tech-savvy workers with skills in customer support are expected to be in high demand this year. As the use of technology becomes more prevalent in everyday life, so does the need for professionals who can provide assistance and support to businesses and customers that are experiencing technical, hardware, or software issues.
