We recently had a great presentation at Silicon Halton Meetup #30 re: Are Technology Professionals Ready For The Future?. We thought we’d delve further into this groundbreaking IT Labour Market report that was the focus of the meetup: Research & Innovation Jobs – Opportunities and Challenges in the Toronto Region.
Today, we’re discussing the report with it’s Project Manager & Lead Researcher –
Leyden M. Fonte. Leyden’s background is in project management, market intelligence, business analytics, and software development. She has worked for universities and corporations in four countries – and this most recent project for the Toronto Region Research Alliance (TRRA) was sponsored by the Government of Ontario, the University of Toronto and TD Bank Group.
Leyden, can you give us an overview of the goals of the research, and why the sponsors felt it was important?
The decline in traditional manufacturing economy has increased the importance of knowledge jobs for developed economies. Professional, scientific, and technical jobs are crucial for established and emerging industrial sectors including life sciences, information and communication technology, agri-food, cleantech, and the environment. In Ontario, these jobs will need to increase to 11.5 per cent by 2031.
This poses critical questions for the Toronto Region economy: Will the current educational system meet requirements for these jobs? Is the region prepared to compete globally in the knowledge economy?
The Research & Innovation Jobs Project addressed these questions at a regional level to best reflect the local marketplace for hiring employers and job-seeking residents, and colleges and universities interested in attracting new students.
It studied the workforce supply / demand for 60+ occupations in business and commerce, sciences, engineering, IT and health. Together, these occupations employ over 400,000 people in the region. Additionaly, it benchmarked 9 international regions on innovations production.
What were the key findings / intelligence that you discovered?
The project found an undersupply for IT and Engineering jobs in the region. Moreover, youth in our region are mainly interested in pursuing business studies, not IT or engineering. If this situation is not solved, strategic sectors like the Financial Industry that are supported by IT services might be affected.
There is a high demand for technical sales skills in the region. Although sales occupations are apparently oversupplied – given the high number of graduates in business, it is hard to find people with a strong background in both sales and technology.
In quantity and quality of scientific production among nine international regions, the Toronto Region is:
- in the top three regions in non-patent publications – means we are a strong region for scientific discoveries, but
- in the bottom-three regions in patent production – most other regions studied are better at translating their patents into market-ready inventions.
Based on these findings, what would you recommend to students and to working professionals?
Students and graduates from technical, non-business fields would increase their employability by incorporating sales skills in their competences. This could be done by taking short programs on sales, offered by local colleges and universities. Professional newcomers might also benefit by taking these courses.
Would you recommend that students not study arts and sciences, but IT and engineering instead?
First, I encourage everyone to find his/her passion and pursue it. Canada would not be the same without Leonard Cohen and Frederick Banting. In my personal experience, speaking with professionals in diverse fields and volunteering at different roles helped me find my passion.
Second, it is important to note that our study did not cover art occupations. From our report, conclusions should be drawn only for the 60+ occupations studied.
Thirdly, regarding the regions’ workforce oversupply in sciences and business, I see it as an opportunity for start-ups and foreign investment attraction. Science graduates and students might approach some of the start-ups incubated by MaRS , or perhaps seek their advice to create their own start-up.
What has been the reaction to the report?
We presented our findings to a motivated and engaged audience of over 90 representatives from government, businesses, and academia in February 2012.
Our presenters included the TRRA; a student panel, and an experts panel. The student panel explained they were finding that their business and science backgounds were in less demand than IT and Engineering backgrounds – and they wished they had received this counsel in high school. The experts panel endorsed our study. David Ticoll – Executive Director of CCTICT stated “The kinds of jobs talked about in this study are critical to our future as an economy”. They also mentioned the importance of this type of study to bridge the gap in labour market information and guide investment decisions.
The Canadian media also reflected on our results and debated on a better integration between employers, academia, and high schools. The Toronto Star and National Post wrote on our findings, and the CBC radio hosted a 2-hour talk show on the issue.
What are the next steps for the findings of this project?
The way our results were presented and analyzed seems to have elevated the awareness on our labour market issues and their direct implications for the Canadian economy. In the weeks after the publication of our report, several spin-offs have been created or boosted. One example is Career Mash – an organization promoting IT studies among Canadian students.
Unfortunately, TRRA is closing it’s doors – and will not be continuing this type of important research. I believe some other organizations might continue this line of work, so needed by the region.
So Leyden, what are the next steps for you?
I’m having conversations with other agencies, consulting services organizations, and financial institutions on ways that I might be able to help them. I am also advising on initiatives to incorporate women in IT and to support youth in the creation of technological start-ups.
Given my background and knowledge of the region, I’m looking for interesting work opportunities that will have direct economic impact on our region. Any leads and referrals from Silicon Halton members or others are welcome. I can be reached LinkedIn or at leydenmf@gmail.com.