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Canada’s workforce needs 6.5 million people to learn digital skills immediately to meet employer demand, according to a new Global Digital Skills Survey [pdf] out today.
The survey, conducted on behalf of Amazon Web Services (AWS), polled companies and workers in 12 countries including Canada to see if they’re prepared for the post-pandemic economy.
AWS released findings from a new research report showing that the need for skills training became more acute during the pandemic, with 78% of Canada’s workers feeling that they now need more technical knowledge to do their jobs as a result of work changes due to the pandemic.
The new AWS Global Digital Skills Study, which surveyed employer and worker perceptions of digital skills training, also found Canada’s workers are at risk of falling behind, with 71% of Canada’s workers noting that they are not confident that they are acquiring digital skills fast enough to meet their future career needs.
The study also found that the ability to use cloud-based tools will be the most in-demand skill required by employers by 2025, but most of today’s workers are not focusing their training on developing their cloud skills. Only 48% of Canadian workers have trained or are training in this skill area. For more advanced cloud-related skills, the study found that only 14% of workers have trained on migrating from on-premises facilities to the cloud.
To help prepare Canada’s future-ready workforce and address the growing need for digitally skilled talent, AWS has launched AWS Skill Builder. AWS Skill Builder is a new digital learning experience available in more than 200 countries and territories.
Anyone with an internet connection can quickly and easily access over 500 free on-demand courses. AWS Skill Builder offers engaging content to meet different learning goals and styles in 16 languages, including French. Individuals can also get course recommendations for learning plans aligned to job roles and technology areas, helping people access the most relevant content for their skill level.