Information technology is one of the most future-proof sectors with an incredibly high-demand. It also has an infinite variety of applications in pretty much every other industry out there. Wherever there is data collected/analysed, or something is sold online, or AI/robotics is used to automate a system, IT jobs are required. While it makes sense that IT positions are in high demand, there are specific IT skills that stand out and will be experiencing a lot of growth in the future.
Here are ten valuable and in-demand skills for IT professionals in Canada in 2023:
Top 10 skills for IT engineers in Canada in 2023
Data Science
Data science and analysis can be used to make informed and data-driven decisions. Working with data requires someone who understands that the mountain of information is more than just a list; there are insights and trends that can help companies make informed decisions. A competent data analyst can transform data into a visual story. Along with critical thinking, having business acumen and proficiency in programming languages such as RStudio and Python goes a long way for data scientists, analysts, and BI (business intelligence) analysts.
Project Management
Project Managers also appeared in our list of the top 10 in-demand jobs in Canada in 2022-23. This is one role where along with an understanding of various aspects of the project, you also need managerial, negotiation, conflict management and budgeting skills, as well as an understanding of various project management methodologies.
DevOps
DevOps uses IT operations and software development in synergy to improve the efficiency of systems development without compromising on quality. DevOps positions are in high demand in Canada, and a DevOps engineer can require a wide variety of skills, right from coding and configuration management to cloud and system administration.
Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality
AR/VR is a relatively new area in the digital space that is about to explode in the coming years. AR goes beyond merging the digital world with reality (video games) or watching movies in 4D, it has applications in health and education as well. Along with development, maintenance and support for AR/VR, a career in this industry also requires a solution-focused approach and an understanding of user experience design.
Cloud Computing
Businesses are dealing with greater volumes of data than ever. When the pandemic quickly took over the world in March 2020, a lot of companies were forced to make the shift to cloud. In general, transitioning to cloud has presented numerous benefits in terms of cost and security, and proficiency in tools such as DevOps and Microsoft Azure are a valuable addition to any cloud professional’s skill-set.
Cybersecurity
With almost all business information being stored digitally, data security has become paramount and cybersecurity roles have seen exponential growth over the last decade. Professionals working in information security require an in-depth understanding of operating systems, and the ability to work with network, blockchain, and coding skills. Aside from data and network security, cloud security is another in-demand skill within the cybersecurity umbrella.
Application development
There are over nine million apps across all platforms, and the numbers are just going to keep growing. Competition creates the need for innovation; along with high-level programming skills, attention to detail, and analytical capabilities, developers also need to be extremely creative and patient. Application and software developers also made it to our list of in-demand jobs in Canada.
AI and Automation
AI and automation are going to be a crucial part of our future low paying or manual labour roles suffer from a labour shortage. Working in such dynamic fields requires skills like coding, robotics, knowledge of relevant libraries and frameworks, and an understanding of the domain where this technology is being applied.
Web development
Over 175 websites are created every minute globally, and the demand for innovative web developers isn’t going to slow down anytime soon. Along with being good at coding (HTML, CSS, and/or JavaScript) and having a basic understanding of UI/UX and databases, web developers today are also expected to be mindful of metrics such as website speed which affect SEO.
Delivery Lead
Delivery leads are team players and are expected to be experts at Agile methodologies and multitasking. Unlike project managers, delivery leads work on multiple projects at a time, and are responsible for providing budgets, assets, and other tools required for each project.
As a result of the pandemic, our world has become more technology-reliant, and this has exponentially increased the importance, proliferation, and versatility of IT roles available, not just today but for years to come.
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