Razaq Kazeem @.Kazeem.R / 2:00 PM EDT. March 27, 2023.
Canada has emerged as a top destination for immigrants, thanks to its favorable immigration policies and attractive features such as a high standard of living, medical benefits, safety, security, and breathtaking geographical locations. Additionally, Canada offers excellent career prospects, especially in light of the current shortage of skilled workers. As per Statistics Canada, there were a record-high number of job openings, with over 912,600 vacancies in the third quarter of 2021. Employers are expected to invest more in capital than labor and redistribute wages to key roles within their companies.
The IT industry in Canada has witnessed rapid growth in recent years, owing to the booming technological landscape and the high demand for programming and development skills. Canada has already adopted emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence, Agile delivery, Analytics, Security, and Cloud services, making it well-positioned to capitalize on the technology boom.
Career Prospects in Canada 2024
The country's business-friendly policies and economy have attracted tech giants like Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and Facebook to establish their delivery centres in Canada. As a result, Canada's tech sector has earned the title of "the fastest growing industry in the country," offering some of the highest-paying jobs in Canada today. In fact, in 2018, Toronto alone created more jobs than the combined numbers of the San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, and Washington D.C. Furthermore, Toronto has surpassed New York in the rankings of "talent markets," reflecting its position as a leading hub for highly skilled workers.
Toronto has become an attractive location for foreign nationals due to the current political situation in the United States, resulting in a rich pool of tech and IT graduates. Lower overhead costs in Canada compared to the US have also led many firms to relocate. However, Canada is facing a shortage of skilled professionals and software engineers due to many college graduates being lured to Silicon Valley. To fill this gap, Canada brings in skilled foreign workers from around the world to meet the market demand.
Canada's IT industry offers some of the highest paying jobs, with an average annual salary of $81,750, which has slightly increased from the previous year's salary of $81,500.
Canada also provides employment-friendly programs, such as the Global Talent Stream and Global Skills Strategy, which facilitate work permits to be processed in two weeks for new immigrants with relevant skills.
As companies undergo digital transformation initiatives, enterprise-level IT functions must collaborate in more areas of the business sector than ever before, particularly in strategy and execution. However, this trend creates challenges for technology leaders, including an acute scarcity of technology workers. The supply and demand gap in Canada is increasing at a rapid pace, and research by Robert Half Technology indicates that over half of IT departments in North America are short-staffed or understaffed.
Best Highest Paying Jobs in Canada in 2024
Coding skills are in high demand, and employers may even increase salaries up to 10 per cent for professionals who possess certain in-demand skills and abilities. Business Intelligence Analysts, Cloud Architects, Cloud Systems Engineers, IT Project Managers, Data Scientists, Developers (web, software, mobile), DevOps Engineers, Full-Stack Developers, IoT Specialists, and Security Professionals (data, information, network, systems, cloud) are among the most in-demand and highest paying jobs in Canada.
To obtain the relevant skills for these jobs, IT certifications play a crucial role. A recent survey of IT/HR managers found that 96% of HR managers use IT certifications as screening or hiring criteria during recruitment, and 66% of IT managers use IT certifications to distinguish between equally qualified candidates.
According to the Randstad report, software developers are the highest paid in Canada in 2022, with a particular demand for full-stack developers with both front and back-end skills. Java, Python, and .net are among the top languages that employers seek, and the average salary for a software developer in Canada is $93,615 per year. The top IT jobs that pay well in Canada include software developers, business intelligence analysts, cloud architects, cloud systems engineers, IT project managers, data scientists, developers (web, software, mobile), DevOps engineers, full-stack developers, and IoT specialists.
Software Developer - A professional who creates, designs, and develops software applications, programs, and systems.
IT Project Manager - An expert who is responsible for planning, executing, and overseeing IT projects, ensuring they are completed on time, within budget, and meet the project goals.
IT Business Analyst - A professional who analyses business operations and designs IT solutions to improve productivity and efficiency.
Database Analyst - An expert who is responsible for analyzing and interpreting complex data sets, developing database solutions and ensuring the data is secure and accurate.
Quality Assurance Analyst - A professional who tests and monitors software applications and systems to ensure they meet quality standards and functional requirements.
Security Analyst - An expert who is responsible for assessing and mitigating risks to the organization's information systems and networks.
Business System Analyst - A professional who analyzes the business requirements of an organization and designs IT systems and solutions to improve business processes.
Network Engineer - An expert who designs, implements, and maintains computer networks for an organization.
What are the ways to acquire the necessary skills for the listed jobs?
There is a significant difference in median salaries, amounting to $15,913 or 22%, between certified and non-certified IT personnel. IT/HR managers were recently surveyed to gather their opinions on the impact of IT certifications on recruitment decisions.
The main discoveries from the survey are:
96% of HR managers utilize IT certifications as a criterion for screening or hiring during recruitment.
66% of IT managers utilize IT certifications to differentiate between candidates who are equally qualified.
72% of IT managers require IT certification for specific job roles.
60% of IT managers use IT certifications to assess a candidate's proficiency.
The Working Conditions in Canada
The work atmosphere in Canada is typically pleasant and optimistic, with effective communication and teamwork being common among team members within an organization, although there may be some exceptions.
Compared to many other countries, the work culture in Canada is generally more laid-back. In contrast to Americans, who may prioritize individual achievements, Canadians tend to value collaborative efforts more.
This cultural distinction may cause varying attitudes among employees, with Americans possibly seeing their colleagues as rivals, while Canadians are more inclined to see them as partners. Despite the possibility of workplace tension arising from this difference, it typically leads to a more constructive and favorable work environment.
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The work environment in Canada is generally characterized by positive and collaborative interactions among team members. In contrast to other countries, the work culture in Canada is relatively relaxed, with an emphasis on teamwork over individual achievement. This approach often leads to a more productive and harmonious workplace, although some tension may arise due to cultural differences. Overall, the work environment in Canada is conducive to achieving high levels of productivity and job satisfaction.