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The Canadian Occupational Projections System (COPS) reports that demand for information systems specialists, categorized under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 system with the code 21222, is going to remain strong during the coming nine years.
That will provide plenty of opportunities for qualified foreign nationals to gain their permanent residence here through occupation-targeted Express Entry system draws.
The number of job openings for information systems specialists from now through to 2031 is expected to total 143,700 which is less than the 157,800 job seekers expected to be trying to snag jobs in that field. However, the COPS considers that gap to be statistically insignificant and for the labour market to remain tight.
“The labour shortage conditions seen in recent years will not clear and are expected to persist over the projection period,” notes the COPS website.
“Employment is projected to grow at a substantially higher rate than the average of all occupations. As a result, job creation will represent 48 per cent of all openings, a proportion that is above the average of all occupations.”
Driving the need for information systems specialists will be the ongoing efforts by businesses and governments to upgrade their information and communications technology systems in order to keep up with the most recent technologies and stay competitive.
“Computer services benefit from the constant development of innovative computer and communications products that are designed and serviced by the industry,” notes the COPS website.
“Cloud-based platforms, the Internet of Things, big data and open-source software continue to gain in popularity, while the implementation of 5G networks and further developments in advanced manufacturing, autonomous transport, virtual and augmented reality, artificial intelligence, machine learning, language processing and biometric security represent a multitude of growth opportunities.
“Consumers and businesses own multiple electronic devices and are increasingly asking for compatibility, transferability, and access to their content from any of those devices.”
With Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) changing Canada’s Express Entry system to allow it to target 82 jobs in healthcare, technology, trades, transport and agriculture this summer – including information systems specialists – it opened the door to a new pathway to immigration for them.
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The flagship Express Entry selection system had previously only conducted draws based on immigration programs, not by targeting specific occupations.
Ottawa made the changes to help resolve serious labour shortages in Canada.
“Everywhere I go, I’ve heard loud and clear from employers across the country who are experiencing chronic labour shortages,” said then-Immigration Minister Sean Fraser.
“These changes to the Express Entry system will ensure that they have the skilled workers they need to grow and succeed. We can also grow our economy and help businesses with labour shortages while also increasing the number of French-proficient candidates to help ensure the vitality of French-speaking communities.”
Information Systems Specialist Can Earn Up To $120,003 Annually In Canada
Job Bank pegs the median hourly wage for information systems specialists in Canada at $42.16 but that varies from a low of $25 right up to $61.54.
Based on a standard, 37.5-hour work week, that means these workers can expect to earn up to $120,003 per year in Canada.
In mid-October, the Job Bank job-hunting and career-planning website listed 558 jobs information systems specialists across Canada and ranked their job prospects over the next three years as very good in Alberta, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec and Saskatchewan and as good in British Columbia, Manitoba, Newfoundland and Labrador and Prince Edward Island.
Candidates hoping to immigrate through Express Entry occupation-targeted draws need at least six months of continuous work experience in Canada or abroad within the past three years in one of these occupations to be eligible, an experience that can have been gained while working in Canada as temporary foreign workers with a work permits or as an international student with a student visa.
Canada first signalled its intention to start occupation-specific draws through Express Entry in June last year, when changes were made to the Immigration, Refugee and Protection Act to allow invitations based on occupations and other attributes, such as language ability.
The majority of Canada’s provinces have been issuing occupation-specific invitations for several years.
Under the changes to the act, the immigration minister is required to consult provinces and territories, members of industry, unions, employers, workers, worker advocacy groups, settlement provider organizations, and immigration researchers and practitioners, before announcing new categories.
IRCC must also report to parliament each year on the categories that were chosen and the reason for the choices.
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) says the number of occupations facing shortages doubled between 2019 and 2021. From 2018 to 2022, federal high-skilled admissions accounted for between 34 and 40 per cent of overall French-speaking admissions outside Quebec, which manages its own immigration intake.
