What is the difference between Digital and Information Technology. A basic definition is: digital describes the content distributed through technological channels while InfoTech is the hardware that facilitates the distribution.
The technology sector consists of companies involved in information technology research and development, computers, hardware, and software. It revolves around the manufacturing of electronics, creation of software, computers, and other products and services related to information technology.
The Information and Communications Technology Council defines; ” Digital economy jobs as all jobs in the tech sector and technology roles in all other sectors.”
Digital jobs versus regular jobs
Digital technology in the context of jobs refers to the use of electronic tools, devices, systems, and resources that organizations utilize for various purposes. These technologies play a crucial role in processing or storing data, enhancing employee productivity, and improving efficiency.
ICTT also writes that; “Canada doesn’t really have a system for figuring out where digital technology jobs end and regular jobs begin or explore how a national standard of definition for digital skills and careers will be the gateway for policymakers and employers to fill any gaps.”
In the UK, the Northern Council for Further Education, NCFE is an example of Essential Digital Skills training and qualifications (EDSQ) that are; “funded qualifications mapped to national standards for essential digital literacy.” NCFE advertises that they “offer a vast range of digital units and qualifications to help adults progress in their careers and meet the need for a highly skilled digital workforce.”
Job growth in the Technology sector and E-commerce
“Technology is a growing sector in Canada driving employment and innovation. With approximately 37,000 companies and $160 billion CAD in revenue, the Information Technology Association of Canada (ITAC) terms the IT industry as the engine of growth and people often refer to Toronto, one of the IT hubs of Canada, as the Silicon Valley of the North”.
In their “Digital talent Outlook 2025” the Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC) advise; “By 2025, ICTC forecasts employment in the Canadian digital economy to reach 2.26 million, triggering a demand for an additional 250,000 jobs”.
Digital Economy
The digital economy is the worldwide network of economic activities, commercial transactions and professional interactions that are enabled by information and communication technologies (ICT)
The Digital Economy consists of all the transactions carried out over digital infrastructure or using digital technologies, including e-commerce. In fact, anything with an “e-” in front of it is part of the digital economy. It’s not just Facebook and Amazon, but even traditional companies that are part of the digital economy. The represents the shift in business to an increasingly digital form of operations.
Online e-commerce spending in Canada grew by 72.7% in 2020, totaling $28.6 billion (dollar figures are in USD). That growth exceeds what we saw in 2019, where e-commerce reached 16.6 billion dollars in spending and 3.6% of all retail revenues.
This growth in the e-commerce sector has created an increased demand and hiring for customer service representatives, warehouse and inventory managers, e-commerce managers & analysts, logistics specialists and others.
Digital skill demand
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the pace of digitalization in the workplace, resulting in a critical need for more workers with advanced digital skills.
“Many industrial sectors across Canada are experiencing huge disruption with the advent of new technologies and automation, and experiencing a shortage of skilled workers.”
“Disruption in labor markets is referring to new technologies, mainly automation, which might take the form of robots in manufacturing, artificial intelligence in the office, computerization,” explains Pissarides. “Digital technologies are disrupting labor markets and the way they work because they require different skills.”
Digital skills
Tenzin Adams of High Speed Training writes the following on digital skills; “Whilst they range from entry-level tasks to advanced abilities, all digital skills are highly transferable and are now considered to be a critical component for employability. As the use of digital technology and automation is transforming the jobs market, transferable skills, particularly those in the digital sphere, are becoming more and more sought after.”
The digital skills you need will depend on the type of career you’re pursuing, however there are essential skills that are increasingly required in most jobs. These are skills that everyone should aim to develop.
Essential Digital skills
- communicating
- handling information and content
- transacting
- problem solving
- being safe and legal online
For the more technically inclined, 10 of the top Advanced Digital Skills are listed below:
- Blockchain: Understanding decentralized digital ledgers and their applications.
- AI and Machine Learning: Grasping artificial intelligence concepts and machine learning algorithms.
- Big Data Analysis: Proficiency in analyzing large data sets to extract meaningful insights.
- Cybersecurity: Protecting digital systems and data from threats.
- Cloud Computing: Utilizing cloud services for storage, computation, and collaboration.
- User Experience (UX): Enhancing user satisfaction by designing intuitive interfaces.
- Marketing and SEO: Navigating digital marketing strategies and search engine optimization.
- Business Intelligence: Leveraging data-driven insights for informed decision-making.
- Office Automation: Streamlining tasks using tools like spreadsheets, macros, and workflows.
- Virtual and Augmented Reality: Understanding immersive technologies for various applications.
These advanced digital skills not only boost individual productivity but also contribute to a company’s competitive edge.
As technology evolves, fostering a digital mindset becomes crucial—enabling professionals to embrace digital transformation, innovate, and stay efficient.
Those with advanced digital skills can end up in current jobs and future opportunities being created.
“Best IT and tech jobs in Canada for 2023 and beyond.”
- developer/programmer
- Business System analyst administrator
- data analyst /scientist
- quality assurance/ analyst
- security analyst/architect
- cloud architect
- IT project manager
- network engineer
Essential tech skills yes, but not all of us have the aptitude or interest to obtain a computer science diploma or degree. Fortunately, countries like Canada offer Essential Digital Literacy programs as shown below.
For marginalized Canadians: “The Digital Literacy Exchange Program (DLEP) will invest $17.6 million to support initiatives aimed at teaching digital literacy skills to Canadians who face barriers to participating in the digital economy. The program aims to equip Canadians with the necessary skills to use computers, mobile devices, and the Internet safely, securely, and effectively. Project funding for the second phase will be available from 2022–23 to 2024–25.
Emotional/social soft skills plus hard skills or digital literacy will be highly transferable to different sectors of the current and future labor market. Or to reframe, you would be in demand in the job market and could work as a freelancer if that is your goal!
