Opportunities for IT workers
Even if the job market as a whole has seen better days, there always seems to be good news for IT professionals. There is a constant demand for skilled IT workers across many fields of expertise. As telecommunications becomes further meshed with general IT, workers with ICT (information and communications technology) skills continue to be in demand.
Many companies in Canada are operating without the full skills they require to satisfy their needs. With the rapid retirement rate of older workers there are opportunities for competitive salaries and advancements.
IT fields experiencing shortages
A sample of IT occupations experiencing shortages of qualified workers are:
- Hardware engineer
- Software engineer
- Systems engineer
- Computer network technicians
- Computer specialist in telecommunications
- Computer programmers
- Interactive media developers
- Computer and information systems managers
- Information systems analysts and consultants
- Software designers
- Web designers and developers
- Information Systems Analyst
- Wireless specialists
IT jobs are not limited to IT companies. Banks, commercial organisations, local and federal government offices, health organisations, education providers, etc all require specialist IT workers. With virtually all business endeavours requiring ICT systems, there is almost no limit to the need for experts to create them, run them, manage them and repair them. Canada’s Job Futures website breaks down each of the above occupational categories and provides information on salary and work prospects in Canada.
Transferability of educational credentials
Many migrants have computer skills that are exceptional, but they have difficulty finding employment for several reasons. One problem can be the transferability of educational credentials. There are assessment services that will help with this so that skilled migrant workers will be better able to find employment in the IT fields for which they are trained, rather than becoming under-employed in non-skilled positions.
The Foreign Credentials Referral Office does not assess internationally obtained credentials or experience. Instead, Canada’s Foreign Credentials Referral Office recommends five credential assessment organisations to migrants looking to establish their skills in relation to Canada’s requirements.
Additionally, potential migrants can use Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s Working in Canada tool to assess their skills and credential against specific occupation-related criteria.
Do I qualify?
Learn more about Canada’s general immigration requirements for skilled migrants and assess whether you qualify to work in Canada as an IT professional.
Admission to Canada as a skilled migrant requires assessment via a points-based system.
