The demand for skilled talent remains high in 2024 for Canadians in tech. Because skilled tech talent is hard to find, some firms are relaxing IT hiring requirements — opting to hire and train less-experienced but high-potential candidates. To meet their hiring goals, companies must continue finding innovative ways to attract and retain both long-term and short-term talent. They’re also turning to flexible staffing solutions like hiring skilled contract professionals to help fill critical project gaps.
Approaches such as offering above-average compensation and engaging recruiters to help you tap into the pool of passive job seekers are more important than ever. In addition, attracting skilled talent is increasingly about how well a company can provide a healthy work/life balance, including being willing to adapt to the desired work styles of high-calibre professionals. As more employers implement return-to-office (RTO) policies, companies that can offer adaptable work schedules, including hybrid or fully remote options, are particularly poised to distinguish themselves in the talent market.
For many Canadian tech leaders, hiring for top tech jobs in 2024 is both a priority and a persistent challenge. Especially companies with open positions that call for AI and machine learning, security and compliance, web development, help desk and support, software and app development, and Cloud architecture skills.
While being competitive with pay helps, retention is still an issue many Canadian tech employers are facing. Businesses often find that to keep valued workers they need to do more which includes expanding benefits and perks to increasing vacation time. Also offering employees professional development opportunities to upskill and potentially get promoted can help boost retention efforts.
The top skills tech job hiring managers are increasing salaries for include:
Cybersecurity
Cloud computing security and architecture
AI and machine learning
Cloud-based roles will see an increase in demand across the tech job market across Canada in 2024, as companies are employing technology professionals to support digital transformation and IT modernization projects.
Visit the latest Robert Half Canada Salary Guide for more Tech hiring trends
What are Canadian technology leaders' hiring priorities and challenges in the first half of 2024? Robert Half found that:
51 per cent are hiring for new permanent roles
42 per cent are hiring for vacated permanent roles
92 per cent are facing challenges finding skilled talent
Technology leaders across Canada expect their teams to be primarily focused on:
1. Systems and information security
2. AI, machine learning and automation
3. Cloud initiatives
4. Digital transformation initiatives
5. Hybrid work technologies
Reflecting one of the latest tech hiring trends in Canada, 61 per cent of technology managers plan to increase their use of contract professionals in the first half of 2024. This approach not only addresses the immediate need for specialized skills in rapidly evolving fields but also offers the flexibility to adapt to changing project demands. Contract talent is particularly sought in areas like AI and machine learning, cloud architecture, and software and applications development.
Breaking this down:
16 per cent are planning to look for a new job.
18 per cent are actively engaged in a job search.
67 per cent are not considering a job search at this time.
A significant portion of tech professionals are looking for a new opportunity, primarily driven by the pursuit of higher salaries and better benefits. This tech hiring trend is good news for Canadian employers who are ready to beef up their tech teams. However, attracting and recruiting these skilled professionals will hinge on offering competitive compensation packages, flexible working conditions and meaningful career development opportunities. As the scramble for tech talent continues, understanding and catering to these preferences will be key in securing the best candidates in the field.
The Demand for Skilled Talent report by Robert Half is an authoritative source providing essential insights into 2024's employment trends. This report has offered a deep dive into Canada’s hiring landscape for over a decade, spotlighting challenges and strategies to attract and retain talent in today’s job market. It explores what employees seek in their careers, identifies common recruitment errors and suggests solutions. The report spans sectors like finance, technology, marketing, legal and human resources, proving crucial for business leaders and managers.
Data methodology
This report's in-demand role data is collated from Robert Half placements, Statistics Canada information, and job postings TalentNeuron. It encompasses over one hundred thousand new positions from hundreds of independent job boards and company websites, including over 8,000 placements from Robert Half Canada. Positions are categorized to over 350 job titles within Robert Half Canada’s 2024 Salary Guide using a proprietary mapping methodology that employs state-of-the-art large language models. This dataset includes roles across the administrative and customer support, finance and accounting, human resources, legal, marketing and creative, and technology professions.
