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September 07, 2021

Canadian Tech Talent Accelerator program helps Canadian talent skill up for digital careers

Between vacancies in IT jobs and workplace changes due to COVID-19, equipping young people for digital careers has become more relevant than ever. The Canadian Tech Talent Accelerator program brings together Microsoft, NPower Canada, Blueprint, and Canada’s Digital Technology Supercluster with the goal of training 3,900 underserved youth for digital careers. The program helps close the skills gap through hands-on learning, industry mentoring, and professional development. By supporting youth to confidently enter technology careers, the program bolsters Canada’s drive to become a digital leader.

NPower Canada

“With NPower Canada, Microsoft, and our external evidence partner, Blueprint, we’ve created a diverse mosaic of perspectives focused on making sure that young Canadians have access to the skills development, job training, and job experiences to meet the needs of Canadian employers.”

Sue Paish, Chief Executive Officer, Canada’s Digital Technology Supercluster

For years, a fundamental skill gap has been growing at the base of the global information and communications technology (ICT) industry. Too often, digital transformation leaves would-be personnel without the skills required by the positions available, leaving many jobs unfilled. Continued learning and reskilling are frequently required. Even before the shift to remote work caused by COVID-19, the Canadian government estimated that the country would face more than 200,000 unfilled ICT positions in 2020, and as many as 305,000 by 2023.

The “Digital Technology Supercluster,” is a program designed to create, scale, and deploy Canadian-made technology solutions. Microsoft was a founding member of this initiative. Out of this collaboration came the Canadian Tech Talent Accelerator program, which aims to help equip at least 3,900 underserved youth across Canada for digital careers. NPower Canada, which since 2014 has been working to reduce poverty in Canada through addressing youth unemployment, has steered the effort toward serving communities that have historically and systemically been underrepresented within ICT and STEM education. Recently, NPower Canada has seen its vision reinforced by the Microsoft Global Skills Initiative.

“NPower Canada prioritizes individuals who belong to underserved communities and face intersectional barriers to the labor market,” says Andrew Reddin, Chief Operating Officer at NPower Canada. “Over 85 percent of the youth we serve are Black, Indigenous, and people of color. Additionally, last year 46 percent of our enrollees were female, and we continue to strive to achieve gender parity across our programs. Microsoft and the Digital Technology Supercluster are as deeply invested in creating a more inclusive technology workforce as we are. That’s why working in close partnership with them is so very important to us.”

Sofia Johnson, a recent graduate of NPower Canada’s Microsoft Junior Data Analyst Program, credits the course with her successful placement at the Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic. “The NPower Canada program showed up when I needed it the most,” she says. “I was panicking. The pandemic had happened. There were no more hospitality jobs, and I felt there were no other avenues available to me.” After completing her first 15-week course, during which she attended lectures, collaborated in scrum groups, and took the lead on group projects, Johnson wasn’t only certified, she was empowered. “I thoroughly enjoyed the group interactions,” says Johnson. “It wasn’t your typical learning environment—it was hands-on and practical.”

Another recent graduate, Leul Abebe, had been trying to break into the ICT space for more than 10 years before entering the program. “I’ve never had any formal training, so I’ve learned everything by myself,” explains Abebe. “I learned how to code in Python and C#, but I never really got the opportunity to start as a junior in any roles. I applied dozens of times, getting few answers and facing many rejections after my initial interviews.” Abebe enrolled in the program after the onset of COVID-19 while he was unable to work. Barely halfway through his first course, he had an opportunity to interview with Long View Systems in Calgary, Alberta. “I was surprised by how well I did in my first interview,” he recalls. “I also interviewed well in the second round and got the job.”

“The Digital Technology Supercluster has been able to bring together educators and private and public sector organizations to better understand the skills, training, and other experiences that employers need to fill the gaps in their employment groups,” says Sue Paish, Chief Executive Officer of Canada’s Digital Technology Supercluster. “With NPower Canada, Microsoft, and our external evidence partner, Blueprint, we’ve created a diverse mosaic of perspectives focused on making sure that young Canadians have access to the skills development, job training, and job experiences to meet the needs of Canadian employers.” 

Find out more about NPower on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

“The NPower Canada program showed up when I needed it the most…. It wasn’t your typical learning environment—it was hands-on and practical.”

Sofia Johnson, Junior Data Analyst Program graduate, NPower Canada

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