This text is part of the special section Professions and careers
Aware but confident: this is how we could summarize the state of mind of Canadian workers about the effects of digital skills on their careers. This serenity, revealed by the Workmonitor report from the Randstad organization in December 2023, is based in particular on the training available in Canada to propel itself thanks to digital technologies.
To conduct this study, Randstad surveyed workers in numerous industrialized countries in America, Europe and Asia. “They are aware of the importance of developing skills given the arrival of digital technologies on the job market,” notes Marie-Pier Bédard, executive vice-president at Randstad Canada.
Positive effect
More than half of Canadians surveyed believe that digital technologies (artificial intelligence, for example) will have a positive effect on their professional lives over the next 5 to 10 years. “We would have thought that a majority would feel threatened, but that is not the case,” underlines Marie-Pier Bédard, rejoicing at this openness. “Whether we like it or not, these technologies are arriving and will take a significant place in the job market. Seeing that we are faced with a majority of workers who want to follow these changing needs is very positive! » she says.
The study also shows a gap between Canadians’ expectations of their employer and the latter’s investment in their training in digital technologies. Generation Z is also the one that attaches the most value to training and learning, notes Marie-Pier Bédard. On the other hand, 77% of Canadians surveyed believe that local schools provide students with the skills necessary to face technological changes in the job market. “This is 9 percentage points more than on a global scale,” underlines the vice-president.
High demand market
Nearly 700 workers in Quebec have followed intensive training in web development and data from the organization Le Wagon since 2017. Their accelerated learning formula in technological professions (called “ boot camp “) is offered in short formats of 400 full-time hours over 2 months (or spread over 6 months), practice-oriented. “In 2022, 90% of our former students who were looking for a job found their first position within 6 to 12 months following their training,” indicates Marie-Gabrielle Ayoub, co-founder and general director of Le Wagon in Montreal.
Companies increasingly need digital and technical skills and jobs related to software engineering, data science and data analysis will be the most sought after in 2024, says Mme Ayoub which welcomes professionals with diverse profiles, many of whom (in the construction, catering, marketing and even finance sectors) are in retraining. “Sometimes, companies finance training to increase skills internally. It’s a smart way to retain their employees,” she observes.
Some numbers
This content was produced by the Special Publications team at Duty, relating to marketing. The writing of the Duty did not take part.