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ARTICLES |
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Demand for
Tech Skills Rebounds |
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The
emphasis on systems security skills in corporations has faded as companies
are beginning to focus on database management and “enterprise-wide”
network systems, according to a recent survey that identifies the “hot
skills” in the labour market. “The
Canadian (technology sector) hasn’t been hit as hard as the U.S.” over
the past year, says Gail Evans, President of The Wynford Group in
Calgary.
She
says the oil and gas sector in Alberta has contributed to moderate growth
and recovery locally because of its dependence on large-scale systems,
whereas Ottawa has been hit harder due to the concentration of
telecommunications firms there.
The
survey, which polled 120 organizations across Canada, also revealed that
about 98 per cent of those firms see a “positive economic environment”
ahead. Security
concerns after the terrorist attacks last September suddenly shifted the
focus onto the need for strong systems security programs.
“Disaster
recovery became critical to (corporations) functioning so that they are
able to recover all of that data,” says Evans. This trend has led to an
increase in demand for network architects, Internet developers, and
database management as systems security dropped to third from first place
as ranked by employers last year.
Call
centre representatives and financial analysts were listed among the
highest in demand this year on the non-technical side, replacing mergers
and acquisitions specialists and business development consultants in 2001.
Evans
says that the increasing reliance on the Internet is pushing the demand
for related skills among corporations.
“Most
organizations now find it necessary to use the Internet to do business and
promote themselves regardless of whether they are into e-commerce or
not,” says Evans.
Jamie
Archer, a network specialist in Calgary, says that while the technology
sector has been slowly recovering, it appears there is still a long way to
go before there is the same level of demand that was seen a couple of
years ago.
“New graduates are still finding it tough in some areas, but the
jobs are certainly increasing and the sector is recovering,” says
Archer.
Evans
says supply chain management has become a high growth area as companies
scramble to make the logistical aspect of their business more efficient
through technology.
A
Calgary company called Moveitonline Inc., for example, is providing
software that links all of the aspects of the supply chain into a single
Internet-based program that tracks the location of freight in real time
and co-ordinates invoicing and other aspects.
Evans
says she expects to see more companies pursuing other ventures that use
the Internet to co-ordinate various aspects of operations within
companies.
“The growth of the need to store information . . . has increase
dramatically and will continue to grow,” she says.
Java
programming skills, Oracle Webtech and database analysis skills will be at
the front of the growth in the technology sector, says Evans. “A lot of software developers are emerging and have maintained
their positions and are now looking for new markets,” says Evans.
Customer
relationship management has also emerged as a growth area, according to
the survey. Evans says firms are concentrating on “getting a better handle on
their clients” through database management and customer service roles
“so that organizations can be more focused on what their customers
want.”
It also appears employees are also staying in their jobs longer now. Turnover has decreased from 12 per cent last year to 7 per cent this year, paralleled by an increase in skills training and development spending by companies. |
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