More Jobs in Tech Industry Pushing Alberta Forward

peterpressmanAugust 16, 2022

Finance, agriculture, health and clean tech identified as the state’s four key sectors

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August 16, 2022 • 29 minutes ago • Read in 2 minutes • join the conversation

Tech jobs in Alberta are projected to grow by 743 to a total of 99,533 in 2022, making it fourth in Canada after Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia.Getty Images

Employment in Canada’s tech sector is projected to follow the upward trajectory experienced so far in 2022, including in Alberta and the Edmonton metropolitan area.

The Computer Technology Industry Association’s State of the Tech Workforce in Canada outlook estimates that total tech employment across Canada will increase by 1.5% in 2021, reaching 1,254,708 workers in 2022. According to the annual report, Alberta’s tech jobs increased by 743 to a total of 99,533 in 2022, placing him fourth in Canada behind Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia.

Job growth in tech jobs in 2022 is projected to total 432 in Edmonton, beating out Calgary’s 219 increase.

A 2022 report by the Information and Communications Technology Council of Canada (ITCT) predicts that technology jobs will lead the province into the future. A Resilient Recovery: Alberta’s Digital-Led Post-COVID Future by Alexandra Cutan, Mairead Matthews, Mansharn Toor notes that despite the impact of the pandemic on Alberta’s economy, “the province’s digital economy remains resilient and It was prosperous,” he said.

The report predicts that four subsectors, including financial technology, health tech, clean tech, and agtech, could significantly increase state employment over the next few years.

But the report warns that job growth could be hampered by a shortage of skilled workers, including a “brain drain” of people attracted to jobs in other jurisdictions.

“The level of competition for skilled workers has only increased in the last few months as other sectors have recovered or started to incorporate technology into their daily operations,” the report’s authors wrote.

Several people interviewed for a report in Edmonton recently attributed the misconception that holding a post-secondary technical graduate would not allow them to work for enough Edmonton-based tech companies. He said it could be a challenge facing local employers. The report’s authors say employers in the Edmonton area suggest more collaboration is needed between industry, government and academia to meet future employment needs.

The Alberta Government’s Alberta Technology and Innovation Strategy, which seeks to add 20,000 new tech jobs by 2030, includes a Skills for Jobs initiative. This initiative aims to facilitate access to post-secondary education and to attract, develop, grow and sustain Alberta’s technical talent pool.

“We must do everything in our power to ensure that Alberta’s young people have the skills, knowledge and abilities they need to succeed in today’s economy and pursue rewarding careers. No,” said Minister of Higher Education Demetrios Nicolaides following the announcement of the initiative.

This article was produced by Content Works, Postmedia’s commercial content division.