The tech industry is navigating a delicate balance in the post-pandemic era, where the adoption of hybrid work models has become as varied as the companies themselves.
From fully remote teams to those favouring in-office presence, organizations are seeking to maintain productivity and team cohesion in an environment fraught with economic volatility.
Within this context, a significant shift in the job market is apparent. According to LinkedIn’s “Global Talent Trends” report, tech hiring in Canada saw a 24% decline year-over-year, while job-seeking activity has surged 13%.
This inversion of the traditional supply-demand dynamic suggests a changing landscape where tech workers are vying for stability in uncertain times.
One surefire path toward resilience in the tech sector is to acquire in-demand skills such as software engineering or expertise in artificial intelligence.
“From startups to established companies, skilled professionals are being sought after to meet their needs, particularly in cloud computing, software engineering, and artificial intelligence,” says Bill Buckley, senior vice president of product and engineering for Boston-based digital intelligence company CloudZero.
Engineering- and AI-related skills tend to yield the most availability of remote and hybrid roles, too. A CloudZero analysis of 30 tech-forward cities from across the world (including Toronto) uncovered more than 9,000 remote jobs available for Software Engineers and 5,200 jobs for Cloud Engineers.
Machine Learning Engineer, Data Scientist, and Information Security Analyst rounded out the top five list of jobs with the most remote roles available. In Canada, cybersecurity is an untapped opportunity.
Regardless of field, in order to be in-demand, “Tech workers need to be highly skilled,” Buckley says, adding that “there are many paths to build those skills.”
Upskilling takes on many forms and reaps many benefits, including staying ahead of the demand curve when it comes to employment opportunities and trends.
Buckley suggests that talent “Identify a field in tech that piques your interest, pinpoint the skills you need, and work on gaining those skills via affordable courses or entry-level position experience.”
Building a professional network is equally important, according to Buckley, who advises leveraging online platforms to immerse oneself in the tech community and facilitate career progression.
“Search online platforms for groups that will immerse you in the tech world and support you along your journey,” the SVP offers.
He points out another key strategy: Get on the radar of hiring managers.
“The other hurdle you’ll face is getting noticed by hiring managers,” Buckley warns. “You’ll have a better chance of standing out the more experience you have, even from consulting work in those areas, or if you can have someone in your network who works at the company bring you into the process.”
Looking to blaze a career trail in tech? Check out the TechTalent.ca Job Board—it’s free to peruse. Or, attend a free Tech Talent Canada Job Fair to tap the shoulder of tech’s top hiring managers.
