CANADA’S BIG DATA CONSORTIUM ANNOUNCES NEW WHITE PAPER, OUTLINES STRATEGIES TO HELP CLOSE BIG DATA TALENT GAP
Toronto, October 14, 2015 – Canadian employers across all regions, sectors, and industries are finding it increasingly difficult to recruit, retain, and train big data and analytics professionals, according to a new white paper published by Canada’s Big Data Consortium, Closing Canada’s Big Data Talent Gap.
Through a first-of-its-kind national, multi-sector study, the Consortium found that Canada’s big data talent gap is estimated at between 10,500 and 19,000 professionals with deep data and analytical skills, such as those required for roles such as Chief Data Officer, Data Scientist, and Data Solutions Architect. The gap for professionals with solid data and analytical literacy to make better decisions is estimated at a further 150,000, such as those required for roles like Business Manager and Business Analyst.
Even when the overall gap is narrowed, a shortage of talent with the right skills will persist unless existing academic and training curriculum are expanded to better meet employers’ needs, constraining Canada’s ability to innovate, compete, and grow the economy.
Working with senior information technology and information management leaders in Canada, the Consortium has developed six strategies, presented in this paper, to help close the country’s big data and analytics talent gap.
The Consortium is tackling Canada’s big data talent gap – join us to help ensure that Canada continues to innovate and grow economically. Download a copy of Closing Canada’s Big Data Talent Gap.
About Canada’s Big Data Consortium
In 2014, Ryerson University launched Canada’s Big Data Consortium to bring industry, government, and academia together to collaborate on key issues related to big data and analytics. The Consortium’s founding partners include: Ryerson University; Concordia University; Dalhousie University; Simon Fraser University; Deloitte; Information Technology Association of Canada; CIO Association of Canada; TMX Group Inc.; SAS; and the Government of Canada.
For its inaugural project, the Consortium led the first national, multi-sector study on Canada’s big data and analytics talent gap. Our objectives were to better understand the breadth and depth of the talent gap, as well as to develop strategies to help close the talent gap so that Canada can continue to innovate, compete, and grow its economy.