By the end of 2021, no less than 12,867 professionals will be needed to meet labor needs in the field of information and communication technologies (ICT) in Quebec.
Students who will graduate, workers who will acquire new skills and newcomers specialized in this field will lend a hand to this sector of economic activity which has been plagued by a labor shortage problem for several years. .
The COVID-19 pandemic has only increased the demand for ICT professionals, particularly due to the use of telework and the increasingly widespread use of new technologies (cloud computing, cybersecurity, big data, etc.) .
According to Statistics Canada’s Labor Force Survey, no less than 262,800 professionals worked in the ICT field in Quebec in November 2020, including 130,610 (49.7%) in technology companies. Nearly 132,190 (50.3%) other workers were self-employed or supported an organization in another economic sector.
Plural solutions
To cover the labor needs of companies, there are many solutions, according to TECHNOCompétences. It is necessary to promote ICT training programs, encourage the reskilling of workers, promote career reorientation and offer learning programs in the workplace to retain talent.
Seizing every opportunity to develop new talent, the Government of Quebec has allocated $19 million to stimulating careers in the ICT field. This budget envelope is used both to recruit specialized workers internationally, to offer short technological training and to offer skills enhancement programs.
“By diversifying actions, we will be able to reduce the impact of the lack of manpower in companies,” says the general manager of TECHNOCompétences, Mélanie Bosc.
In collaboration with Services Québec, TECHNOCompétences has launched the Maillon Techno project, a program that helps create links between qualified job seekers and companies looking for specialized labor in TIC. Support is offered to companies throughout the hiring process and during the integration period of these new employees to ensure their continued employment. Refresher training can also be offered.
What’s more, these employers can benefit from financial assistance of up to $5,000 since the selected candidates are eligible for the Employment Integration Assistance Program for Immigrants and Visible Minorities, Integration of Immigrants and Visible Minorities into Employment (PRIIME) or the Services Québec wage subsidy. They can also take advantage of assistance measures offered by Services Québec, such as subsidized training or mentoring. Businesses have everything to gain by getting information from Services Québec.
“In the context of a shortage, the connection efforts to be made to match labor needs and availability are very important and the Maillon Techno program offers solutions. It makes the link between the offers of companies and job seekers. More so, it offers business support throughout the continuum; from the analysis of their needs, to the integration of new employees and the training to be offered to them”, underlines the president of the Commission of the partners of the labor market, Audrey Murray.
“I am proud to see that our partners in the field remain active in developing concrete solutions to ensure Quebec’s economic vitality. This is precisely what the Maillon Techno project does, by supporting companies in their process of recruiting people who are unemployed or from an immigrant background, in addition to focusing on skills enhancement. By supporting companies in finding and maintaining a qualified and diversified workforce, we ensure that we have a labor market that is strong for all its players and inclusive so that everyone can find their job. place,” says the Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Solidarity, Jean Boulet.
Thanks to these steps to train, requalify and recruit workers, businesses will be able to continue to prosper, both in Quebec and on the international scene.