1. ICT Sector Overview Ontario Linkages Project Roundtable April 26, 2018
Diana Barbosa
Director, K-12 Education & Standards
Nathan Snider
Program Manager, Indigenous Outreaching &
Programming

2. ABOUT ICTC
The Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC) is a not-for-profit national centre of expertise offering evidence-based policy advice, forward looking research, and creative capacity building programs for the digital economy.
Established in 1993, ICTC’s vision is to support Canada’s competitive advantage in the digital economy, by fostering globally-competitive Canadian industries, and a prosperous society empowered by innovative digital skills.

3. ICTC Partner Platform
ICTC brings together industry, academia, and policymakers to advance the digital economy in Canada and the well-being of all Canadians.
ICTC
GOVERNMENT
- Federal
- Provincial
- Municipal
ASSOCIATIONS
- Education assoc.
- Industry assoc.
ACADEMIA
Middle & Secondary School
- Colleges
- Universities
EMPLOYERS (all sectors)
- Small to Mid (SMEs)
- Large & MNCs
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS

4. Canadian digital economy employs approx. 1.4 million people
Digital Economy Intro
216,000 ICT workers needed by 2021 in Canada
Canadian digital economy employs approx. 1.4 million people
Digitization, coupled with transformative technologies are permeating all sectors of the economy, accelerating heightened demand for digital skills

5. A Snapshot of Canada’s Digital Economy
In 2017 Canada’s digital economy employed 1,441,900 professionals
In 2016, approximately 15,835 ICT workers are from indigenous populations
The digital economy is becoming more integrated with other sectors.
“Other sectors” include manufacturing, transportation, natural resources and more.

6. Key Transformative Technologies
Virtual Reality (VR)& Augmented Reality (AR)
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
5G (5th generation mobile networks)
3D Printing
Blockchain
There are 5 key transformative Technologies
Virtual Reality & Augment Reality
Expected to become a $150 billion market by 2020 – double the size of the desktop PC market in 2016
Artificial Intelligence
Although AI is still in the early stages of development, its global economic impact is expected to reach between 7.1 to 13.1 trillion by 2025 5G
The global 5G value chain will generate 3.5 trillion in output, outweighing the current value of today’s entire mobile value chain, and will support 22 million jobs in 2035.
3D Printing
Has the potential to shift production and distribution from the current model to an on-demand, onsite, customized production model. McKinsey estimates that 3D printing could generate an economic impact of $230 to $550 billion per year by 2025 based on reduced costs and the value of customization.
Blockchain
Blockchain allows unrelated computers and companies to simultaneously collect and store information. The technology is viewed as harder to corrupt or hack because of its reliance on many participants instead of a single authority. Blockchain has already started to change the Financial services industry and according to Accenture PLC, blockchain could save the 10 largest banks -12 billion a year in infrastructure costs- or 30% of their total costs in that area.

7. TOP IN-DEMAND ICT OCCUPATIONS
computer and information systems managers
computer engineers (except software engineers and designers)
database analysts and database administrators
computer programmers and interactive media developers
graphic arts technicians
information systems analysts and consultants
industrial instrumentation technicians and mechanics
software engineers and designers
engineering managers
graphic designers and illustrators
user support technicians
Bolded are top 5
The Top In-Demand ICT occupations share the following characteristics:
Broad potential to grow the scale and scope of the Canadian economy, leveraging one or many of the technology drivers identified previously.
Greater potential for job mobility between sectors, and therefore less risk of being out-phased from the job market in a changing economy.
Can be easily re-skilled or up-skilled to meet new industry demands given strong baseline of education.
Potential for career progression with minimal training costs (hence business growth) compared to occupations with skills that are narrowly defined and have limited career prospects.
In 2017, the unemployment rate for ICT professionals totaled 2.6%, down slightly from Compare this to the national average which totaled 6.5%, during the same period.
(Data Source: ICTC’s Digital Economy Annual Review 2017 report)

8. Canada’s Future Digital Workforce
Projected ICT employment growth, by province, 2017 to 2021
Top 3 for growth:
Ontario -
Quebec BC
“With a continued increase in the need for ICT workers it is important that a diverse workforce be leveraged to fill the gaps. This includes engaging skilled immigrants, focus on closing the gender gap in ICT and creating opportunities for Indigenous peoples.
Estimates predict that Canada’s Indigenous workforce could increase by more than 45, 000 by 2021, more that 72, 000 by 2026 and approximately 103, 5000 by As automation and technological advances continue to change the type of work we do and the nature of work itself, the ability to recruit homegrown talent, such as indigenous peoples, to fill these jobs becomes more crucial than ever.
Source: ICTC (2016)

9. Pathways to success: Creating a Canadian digital economy that all Canadians can participate in
Opportunities are bountiful within the digital economy, but we must ensure that this growth is inclusive
We must create educational pathways and skills retraining programs, in order to include a wider diversity of ICT workers
We must also create transitional strategies for professional groups which risk being displaced by technology
There needs to be regional strategies as well, so as to ensure that all areas of this country can join the digital economy
Otherwise, we risk creating a future which is digitized but exclusive and elitist

10. ICTC's Digital D.A.S.H. Initiative
ICTC's Digital D.A.S.H. Initiative promotes the use of ICT and digital skills for indigenous youth and First Nation schools across Canada. The program's goal is to provide students and educators with the necessary skills frameworks to begin placing foundational learning elements in their classrooms. The program's collaborative and inclusive model promotes:  
Computational Thinking/Coding
The Entrepreneurial Spirit
Cyber Security & Safety
Creative & Complex Problem Solving
Analytical Thinking

11. ICTC CAPACITY BUILDING
Education Initiatives
(K-20)
Workforce & Skills Development
Industry-Education Models, Upskilling, retooling; integrating talent
Digital Transformation
Digital adoption & integration; digital talent supply
Diversity & Inclusion
Newcomers, Women, Indigenous, Persons with Disabilities
Digital Literacy
Digital Citizenship, digital pathways
Career Connect
Subsidy program for young graduates that enables on-the-job learning path to potential full-time employment
Advancing Women in Tech (ATW)
The ATW initiative aims to increase women’s economic prosperity by increasing retention and career advancement opportunities in ICT
Small Business Digitization Initiative
The Small Business Digitization Initiative is a training and experiential work placement program.
Work Integrated Learning Program (WIL)
The Student Work-Integrated Learning Program supports partnerships between employers and post-secondary education (PSE) institutions
Women In Tech (WIT)
An initiative to help women enter decision-making and management roles and move up in their organizations or in the sector

12. Thank You. You can find us on: @ICTC_CTIC
DigitalEconomyPulse
Information and Communications Technology Council
Tools and Resources
Forecast, Trends, Studies and Publications
Talent Programs
Education & Skills
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