Tech jobs in Canada set for continued growth, says report

Canadian technology-based employment is projected to rise in 2025, continuing a trend of consistent job growth across the country, according to new research from CompTIA.

The "State of the Tech Workforce Canada 2025" report estimates that net tech employment reached 1,445,188 workers in 2024, which is an increase of 1.9 per cent compared to the previous year. The report forecasts a further increase of 1.4 per cent in 2025, bringing the total to an estimated 1.46 million workers.

From 2019 to 2024, net tech employment has grown by approximately 290,500 jobs. Each year has seen an increase in job growth, with the exception of 2020. Technology roles now account for 6.8 per cent of the total Canadian workforce.

Over the coming decade, tech occupations are expected to expand 1.77 times faster than employment in the Canadian economy overall. Specific occupation categories projected for the strongest growth include software engineers and designers (with an increase of 163 per cent), information systems managers (153 per cent), cybersecurity specialists (131 per cent), data scientists (126 per cent), data analysts and administrators (116 per cent) and business systems specialists (113 per cent).

Regional analysis within the report highlights Ontario as the province recording the most significant increase in net tech employment, adding 17,837 workers in 2024. Alberta added 6,083 new tech roles, while Manitoba, Nova Scotia and Quebec increased their tech workforces by 1,565, 1,301 and 1,206 workers, respectively.

The Toronto metropolitan area is noted as having both the largest tech workforce, totalling 414,667 workers, and the highest concentration of technology professionals relative to its overall workforce at 10.7 per cent. 

The report also details the broader economic footprint of Canada's technology sector. The sector encompasses an estimated 83,260 business establishments, accounting for approximately 5.8 per cent of direct economic value, which is equivalent to CAD $131.6 billion. Median annual wages for technology workers in the country are estimated at CAD $97,197, reportedly 48 per cent higher than the overall national median for all occupations.

CompTIA defines "net tech employment" to include not only technology professionals working in IT support, network engineering, software development, and data science across all industry sectors, but also business professionals - such as those in administration, marketing, and sales - who are employed by technology-focused companies, as well as full-time self-employed technology workers.

According to Gary Mofford, Account Director, Canada at CompTIA, "Job growth is anticipated in several occupation categories; from the bedrocks of tech support, cybersecurity, infrastructure and software to rapidly emerging fields such as artificial intelligence and advanced data analytics. Hiring intent reflects the critical importance of technology, tech workers and digitally fluent employees for organisations of all sizes, in all industries and in every locale."

The organisation notes that its 2024 estimates and 2025 projections use the most currently available data, but cautions that due to data lags, recent developments from late 2024 into early 2025 may not yet be fully reflected in the report's findings. It also states that revisions from Lightcast may influence historical employment figures both upwards and downwards.