The high-tech sector in Canada is becoming increasingly involved in research and development and has introduced technology innovations that boost economic growth. More and more entrepreneurs choose sectors such as advanced manufacturing, life sciences, information and communication technology, and clean energy. Entrepreneurs working on high-tech projects are offered financial incentives, research and development tax credits, advisory, incubator resources, and collaborations with educational institutions.
This order ahead and pickup up platform enables users to order meals and coffee and skip the wait. The platform offers employer-paid meal credits that can be used for weekend meals, after-hours dinners, lunch, and breakfast. Users are offered the chance to collect loyalty points that can be used toward free food and coffee and discounts. The company has already expanded to London, England, Sydney, Australia, and the U.S., working with more than 2,500 coffee shops and diners and operating in 40 cities around the world.
Learn MoreDeveloped as a collaboration and communication platform for teams, Slack is a handy tool to share files, edit documents, call or message groups or individual users, and customize notifications. The app offers chat rooms and allows users to create channels by project or topic, making it easier to manage the workflow. The app can be integrated with other tools such as Zendesk, Twitter, Asana, Dropbox, Salesforce, and Google Drive. More and more businesses are using Slack, including companies and institutions such as Shopify, 21st Century Fox, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Away, Zapier.
Learn MoreBased in Toronto, Ontario, Wave specializes in payment, payroll, invoicing, and accounting software. Their advanced accounting software features multiple functionalities such as credit card and bank connections, profit and loss and cash flow reports, and more. Wave’s invoicing software allows users to use both manual and automatic billing, set up automatic card payments and recurring invoices, accept online payments, and send invoices. Wave offers a free app that can be installed on Android or iOS and enables users to access invoices and accept bank and credit card payments (https://www.creditcardsforbadcredit.ca/neo-financial-secured-credit-card-and-money-account/). Mobile invoicing is handy in that it allows users to send payment receipts and invoice reminders, check whether invoices are paid, overdue, viewed, or sent, receive payment notifications, and create invoices. Enhanced capabilities allow professionals to use the Guest collaborator feature, create automatic reports, and track expenses. The mobile expense tracking app allows users to scan receipts, track expenses, and review receipts.
Learn MoreThese smart glasses are equipped with a holographic display that enables users to view reminders and calendars, follow directions, and receive messages. Users get notifications such as sports scores, Uber notifications, Apple News alerts, Slack, email, and text notifications, the weather, and date and time. The glasses feature water-repellant and scratch-resistant coating, UV protection, and anti-reflective coating.
Learn MoreThis platform offers visitors the chance to connect with wider audiences and share their stories. Users can choose from different genres, including romance, poetry, paranormal, historical fiction, science fiction. The platform also features writing contests, programs and opportunities, and resources. Wattpad also offers an app that allows users to share their stories, connect and communicate with writers and readers, and read stories. The app is compatible with iPod touch, iPad, and iPhone and supports multiple languages, including Italian, Indonesian, Hebrew, French, and English.
Learn MoreTech professionals are in high demand in Alberta and in major industries such as energy, renewable energy, aerospace and defense, and manufacturing. Businesses across sectors are looking to fill in tech positions, including equipment and transport operators, heavy equipment, and equipment mechanics.
The major industries in Alberta are warehousing and transportation, construction, utilities, and oil, gas, and mining. Major employers operate across sectors such as scientific, professional, and technical services, trade, social assistance and health care, and food services and accommodation. The oil and gas extraction and mining sector is the largest employer in Alberta, employing over 6 percent of the province’s workforce. Major employers with a technology focus are companies such as Flint Energy Services, Canadian Pacific Railway, and Stantec Inc.
Calgary is a major centre for emerging technologies such as industrial internet of things, AR/VR, artificial intelligence, clean technologies, and autonomous systems. Emerging technologies find applications in sectors such as manufacturing, logistics and transportation, agribusiness, and energy. Advanced technologies also find application in sectors such as the creative industries, life sciences, and financial services. IT companies are looking to hire QA engineers and testers, user interface designers, and full stack developers. Other in-demand jobs include data scientists and developers, software engineers, and software developers. Companies in the manufacturing sector are also looking to hire tech professionals, including electrical engineers, engineering managers, petroleum and chemical engineers, and geoscientists. The average salary in the technology sector depends on experience. Junior-level professionals are paid between $65,000 and less and $95,000 a year while senior-level employees receive between $65,000 and $150,000.
Tech jobs are also in demand in other cities such as Edmonton, Fort McMurray, and Lethbridge. A number of companies are looking to fill in positions, including Suncor Energy Services, Canadian Pacific, Canadian Natural, and Spartan Controls. Tech companies are filling vacancies such as data modelling analyst, control system networking specialist, IT quality assurance specialist, and software developer. Other in-demand positions are manager of technology, technology analyst, autonomous mine system engineer, and IT consultant.
Alberta is expected to experience labor shortages by 2025, including positions such as medical technicians and technologists, information systems and computer professionals, and transportation and construction managers. Occupations that saw an increase in job openings between 2015 and 2019 include heavy-duty equipment mechanics, construction estimators, electricians, and industrial instrument technicians. The occupations with the largest job increases are mechanical engineers, heavy-duty equipment mechanics, and power systems operators and engineers. Other occupations with significant job increases are also maintenance and facility operation managers, petroleum engineers, and oceanographers and geoscientists. Positions for which oil sands knowledge is required make for about 15 percent of all job increases, including production and engineering managers, petroleum engineers, and geoscientists.
Oil and gas and mining sectors that are expected to experience fast growth will face labor shortages, including professionals such as industrial engineers, manufacturing and engineering technologists, and mineral and geological technicians and technologists. Many oil and gas companies will be hiring more workers due to industry activity, including applied and natural science policy researchers, natural resources production managers, and power systems operators and power engineers. More and more companies are also developing programs to offer incentives to skilled workers as to remain working.