The IT skills Canadian employers are hiring for
Cloud, security, data and automation keep showing up in job postings. Here is what each skill looks like on the job, and how to start learning it.
IT jobs in Canada are becoming more specialized. A posting that once asked for a general “IT person” is now more likely to name a cloud platform, a security tool or a data stack, and to expect you to have used it.
That makes it easier to plan what to learn. Below are the skill areas that come up again and again in Canadian postings for cloud, security, data and operations roles: what each one looks like day to day, and what to learn first. It is written for people moving into IT from another field, and for anyone already in IT deciding what to learn next.
| Skill area | Roles | Learn first |
|---|---|---|
| Cloud computing and cloud security | Cloud administrator, cloud engineer, cloud security engineer | One major platform in depth: AWS, Azure or Google Cloud |
| Artificial intelligence and machine learning | Machine learning engineer, data scientist | Python, then a framework such as PyTorch or TensorFlow |
| Cybersecurity | Security analyst, penetration tester, security consultant | Threat intelligence and vulnerability assessments |
| Data analytics and big data | Data analyst, data engineer | SQL first, then Python for data work |
| Automation and robotic process automation | RPA developer, automation engineer | An RPA tool: UiPath, Automation Anywhere or Blue Prism |
| DevOps and agile development | DevOps engineer | Automation tools such as Jenkins, Ansible and Terraform |
| Blockchain | Fewer, more specialized roles | A core skill such as development or security, before blockchain |
| Communication and leadership | Every role | Plain-language writing and explanation |
Cloud computing and cloud security
Many organizations now run some or all of their systems on Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure or Google Cloud, and someone has to build, secure and pay for that setup. Job titles include cloud administrator, cloud engineer and cloud security engineer. On a typical day you might set up a virtual network, decide who can access what, or work out why last month’s bill doubled.
Skills to learn
- One major platform in depth: AWS, Azure or Google Cloud
- Identity and access management, encryption and network security
- DevOps practices for cloud environments
Artificial intelligence and machine learning
Employers in finance, health care and retail are putting machine learning into everyday work, such as fraud checks, demand forecasts and document processing. Roles range from machine learning engineer to data scientist, and general IT roles increasingly expect you to understand how these systems are built, tested and monitored.
Skills to learn
- Python, then a framework such as PyTorch or TensorFlow
- Data analysis and model building, including how to measure whether a model works
- Deep learning, once the fundamentals are solid
Cybersecurity
Every organization that stores client data needs people to protect it, and remote work and cloud services have widened what there is to protect. Common roles include security analyst, penetration tester and security consultant. The work ranges from reviewing alerts and fixing weaknesses to testing defences the way an attacker would. Our guide to building a career in cybersecurity covers the entry-level roles in more detail.
Skills to learn
- Threat intelligence and vulnerability assessments
- Security monitoring tools such as SIEM and intrusion detection and prevention (IDS/IPS)
- Ethical hacking and penetration testing
Data analytics and big data
Most businesses already collect sales, customer and operations data. Data analysts and data engineers turn it into reports and dashboards that managers use to make decisions. The job usually ends with explaining what you found to people who are not technical, which is a skill in its own right.
Skills to learn
- SQL first, then Python for data work
- Dashboards in Tableau or Power BI
- Statistical analysis and data modelling, plus Spark or Hadoop for very large datasets
Automation and robotic process automation
A lot of office work is repetitive: copying figures between systems, filing invoices, setting up accounts for new staff. Robotic process automation (RPA) tools such as UiPath, Blue Prism and Automation Anywhere let software “bots” do those steps instead. RPA developers and automation engineers build the bots, keep them working when the underlying systems change, and help decide which processes are worth automating at all.
Skills to learn
- An RPA tool: UiPath, Automation Anywhere or Blue Prism
- Scripting for automation, usually Python or PowerShell
- Process design: mapping how work flows today before you automate it
DevOps and agile development
Teams that release software often need developers and operations staff working as one group. DevOps engineers build pipelines that test and ship code automatically, package applications in containers, and manage servers with code instead of by hand. Most of these teams work in an agile way, in short cycles with frequent check-ins.
Skills to learn
- Automation tools such as Jenkins, Ansible and Terraform
- Containers with Docker and Kubernetes
- Agile and Scrum practices
Blockchain
Blockchain gets less attention than it did a few years ago, but some finance, health and supply chain organizations use it to keep shared records that no single party can quietly change. The roles are fewer and more specialized than in the areas above. If it interests you, learn it on top of a core skill such as development or security, not instead of one.
Skills to learn
- Development on platforms such as Ethereum or Hyperledger
- Smart contract programming in Solidity or Chaincode
- How distributed ledgers and consensus work
Communication and leadership
Technical skill gets you the interview. What moves you up is how clearly you explain a problem to someone who is not technical, how you handle an outage under pressure, and whether people trust you to lead a project. These skills are hard to prove on a résumé, so show them: write clear tickets, document your fixes, and offer to present your work.
Skills to learn
- Plain-language writing and explanation
- Problem-solving and troubleshooting under pressure
- Project management and leading small teams
Depth beats a little of everything
None of these skills is a shortcut on its own. People who do well tend to pick one area, get hands-on with it, and add a second skill once the first is solid. A cloud administrator who understands security, or a data analyst who can automate a report, is easier to hire than someone who has dabbled in everything.
Where to start
If you are new to IT, cloud or cybersecurity fundamentals are the most common first step, because so many other roles build on them. Our course finder filters G-Force programs by goal, level and format (virtual, in person or self-paced) and shows which certification exams each one prepares you for. Not sure which track fits? Book a call and we will help you choose based on your goals.
