David Papp Blog

Top Ten Skills for Canadian IT Engineers in 2023

Information technology is one of the most future-proof industries, with extremely high demand. It also has an infinite number of applications in almost every other industry. IT jobs are needed anywhere data is collected/analyzed, something is sold online, or AI/robotics are used to automate a system. While it is understandable that IT positions are in high demand, there are certain IT skills that stand out and will see significant growth in the future.

Here are ten of the most valuable and in-demand skills for Canadian IT professionals in 2023:

 

Data Science

Data science and analysis can be used to make data-driven, informed decisions. Working with data necessitates the understanding that the mountain of information is more than just a list; there are insights and trends that can assist businesses in making informed decisions. A skilled data analyst can turn data into a visual story. Along with critical thinking, data scientists, analysts, and BI (business intelligence) analysts benefit from business acumen and proficiency in programming languages such as RStudio and Python.

 

Project Management

Project managers were also among some of the most in-demand jobs in Canada in 2022-23. Along with an understanding of various aspects of the project, this is one role that requires managerial, negotiation, conflict management, and budgeting skills, as well as an understanding of various methods of project management.

 

DevOps

DevOps combines IT operations and software development to increase system development efficiency while maintaining quality. DevOps positions are in high demand in Canada, and a DevOps engineer may need a wide range of skills, including coding and configuration management, as well as cloud and system administration.

 

Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality

AR/VR is a relatively new area of digital technology that is set to grow in the coming years. AR goes beyond fusing the digital and real worlds (video games) or watching movies in 4D; it also has applications in health and education. A career in this industry necessitates a solution-focused approach as well as an understanding of user experience design, in addition to AR/VR development, maintenance, and support.

 

Cloud Computing

Businesses are dealing with more data than ever before. When the pandemic swept the globe in March 2020, many businesses were forced to migrate to the cloud. In general, moving to the cloud has provided numerous cost and security benefits, and proficiency in tools such as DevOps and Microsoft Azure are a valuable addition to any cloud professional’s skill set.

 

Cybersecurity

With nearly all business information being stored digitally, data security has become critical, and cybersecurity roles have grown exponentially over the last decade. Professionals in information security must have a thorough understanding of operating systems as well as the ability to work with networks, blockchain, and coding. Aside from data and network security, cloud security is an in-demand skill in the cybersecurity industry.

 

Application Development

There are over nine million apps available across all platforms, and the number is only going to grow. Competition necessitates innovation; in addition to high-level programming skills, attention to detail, and analytical abilities, developers must also be extremely creative and patient.

 

AI and Automation

AI and automation will play an important role in our future, as low-wage or manual labour roles face a labour shortage. Working in such dynamic fields necessitates coding, robotics, knowledge of relevant libraries and frameworks, and an understanding of the domain in which this technology is used.

 

Web Development

Over 175 websites are created every minute around the world, and the demand for creative web developers isn’t going away anytime soon. Along with being proficient in coding (HTML, CSS, and/or JavaScript) and having a basic understanding of UI/UX and databases, web developers are now expected to be aware of metrics that affect SEO, such as website speed.

 

Delivery Lead

Delivery leads are team players who must be experts in Agile methodologies and multitasking. Delivery leads, unlike project managers, work on multiple projects at once and are responsible for providing budgets, assets, and other tools needed for each project.

 

As a result of the pandemic, our world has become more technologically dependent, which has exponentially increased the importance, proliferation, and versatility of IT roles available today and in the future.