Anticipated Shortage of Canadian ICT Workers Prompts Plan of Action

Recruiters that work with communications and technology may wish to turn their energies northward.  According to a press release and report from the Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC), Canada expects to be hard-pressed to find skilled workers in communications and technology in the near future.

The new report predicts that Canadian employers will run into problems if they expect to hire someone with five or more years’ experience– particularly in fields such as marketing, accounting and finance.

Anticipating the need for an estimated 106,000 ICT workers, the ICTC identified several possible remedies for the deficit of experienced ICT workers.  Many of their recommendations focus on education.  For instance, the report suggests that the country must expand its enrollment of students in ICT-related post-secondary programs.  This education system must shift to integrated, cross-discipline programs with practicum components and professional development opportunities.  This transformation ensures that graduates are equipped with a mix of skills vital in the workplace.

ICTC also charged employers to take some responsibility.  They suggest that employers can help “nearly qualified” candidates.  Through well-developed professional development, employees can get their skills up to speed..  Employers can also make sure that they are making sure that under-represented groups in the ICT industry are given every opportunity to participate in the ICT industry.

The organization routinely forecasts trends in the labor market. HR and recruitment professionals with interests in the region can follow their forecasts through the ICTC site.