Originally published at TheFutureEconomy.ca. Ever since the global financial crisis in 2008, policymakers around the world have endeavoured to establish a baseline for a resilient economy while creating jobs in a socially and environmentally responsible world. The pandemic has further intensified global policy-making inertia as governments strived to rebuild their economies while reconciling ecological, social equity and growth aspirations against a backdrop of rapid technological change. Despite Canada’s encouraging economic rebound over the last two years, it continues to face multiple headw ..read more

Spotlight on Inflation and Digital Labour Market Dynamics The holidays are typically a time for indulgence, but Canadian businesses and households have been focused more on belt-tightening this year. A combination of factors—expansive monetary and fiscal stimulus during the pandemic, pent-up demand from the lockdowns of 2020 and 2021, global supply chain disruptions, and the war in Ukraine—has led to inflation in 2022 reaching levels last seen in the early 1980s. While the Bank of Canada has been trying to keep inflation from spiralling through a series of interest rate hikes in 2022, the spee ..read more

As we embark on a new year and an expanded chapter of ICTC’s journey, I want to take a moment to reflect on last year’s achievements and the opportunities that lie ahead in 2023.  Last year, the global economy started on a positive note before plunging into a sea of uncertainties that tested its resolve. Rising inflation, persistent supply chain constraints, continued geopolitical conflicts, and the reverberating impact of climate change all weighed heavily on Canada’s economic recovery. While the overall job market remained strong, lingering economic conditions and inflationary pressures ..read more

Ottawa, December 13, 2022—A digitalization surge in the Canadian economy during COVID created significant market growth and increased Canada’s ability to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) to its digital economy; maintaining this momentum could require more robust digital infrastructure and some financial and policy adjustments.   Canada’s digital economy remained resilient during the pandemic. Amid widespread economic contraction in 2020, the ICT sector expanded by 1.6%, and by a further 4.7% in 2021.    Global FDI flows initially shrank early in the pandemic but recovered soon ..read more

Ottawa, December 12, 2022 —ICTC is pleased to announce a research partnership with Université de l’Ontario français (UOF). To support UOF course development to attract francophone students and meet labour market needs in Ontario, ICTC will provide tailored research to explore the labour market supply and demand in Ontario for francophone students.   This ICTC research will also answer the following questions:   What sectors, jobs, and skills are most in demand in different regions of Ontario?   Which of these occupations involve French fluency?   How ca ..read more

By Mansharn Toor During the pandemic, cities across Canada paused many of their existing smart infrastructure projects. Along with larger investments in health and wellbeing, new municipal “smart” projects often prioritized diversity, equity, and inclusion along with initiatives to promote sustainability. Public consultations conducted by the Information and Communications Tech Council (ICTC) in 14 smart cities across Canada also highlighted diversity, inclusion, and environmental sustainability as a priority across many jurisdictions. Making Space for Equity-Deserving Tech Talent Canada’s sma ..read more

ICTC has partnered with Magnet on the Canada Digital Adoption Program (CDAP). Together, we’re supporting the delivery of “Boost Your Business Technology” and “Youth Boost” to foster career development and help eligible employers connect with young talent.   About the Boost Your Business Technology Grant  This program helps small and medium-sized businesses adopt new digital technologies.   Eligible businesses can:  Use a free digital assessment tool to evaluate their business’s digital readiness. Receive a grant of up to $15,000 to consult with a digital expert a ..read more

The COVID-19 pandemic and digitalization are rapidly transforming the global economy, but they have also spurred rapid growth in the prevalence and intensity of cybercrime. There have been countless cyberattacks in 2022 alone, ranging from service disruptions to critical data breaches. These issues affect organizations both large and small, with big names like Sobeys and Maple Leaf Foods being subject to cybersecurity incidents this past November.  While these circumstances have led to an increase in job openings for employees in cybersecurity, there is a significant global deficit in cyb ..read more

More concrete action is needed to drive up the number of women working in tech.   For years now, the representation of women in tech has floundered at just 26%. During the pandemic years of 2020 to 2021, that percentage even slipped by 2.1%.   Awareness and business as usual just aren’t enough to improve gender diversity in tech—despite all the good reasons for a more inclusive workplace cited by thought leaders and ICTC research, including:  Increased company creativity  Expanded market opportunities in pivoting to universal product design that has women and oth ..read more

Ottawa, September 28, 2022—Smart city initiatives have multiplied across Canada and their success ultimately depends on attracting and retaining qualified talent with the right technical and human skills to navigate these complex projects. A new three-report series wraps up ICTC’s multi-year project on smart cities. Collectively, the reports explore developments, trends, and best practices to guide smart city projects. Notably, the reports detail the roles and technical and human skills needed by these projects, as well as the sought-after academic backgrounds and education programs that can l ..read more