Upskilling Technology Professionals in Canada: A Midterm Impact Report on ICTC’s Beyond the Cloud Program

In early 2024, the Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC) launched Beyond the Cloud: Powering Next Generation Canadian Digital Infrastructure, a program funded by Upskill Canada (powered by Palette Skills) and the Government of Canada.  

The program seeks to equip 500 technology professionals with the skills to transition into in-demand cloud infrastructure roles, such as Generative AI, Back-End Development, Development Operations (DevOps), Cloud Engineering, Cloud Administration, Network Administration, and Database Administration.  

This document provides a midterm program overview of Beyond the Cloud's impact as of January 8, 2025.

Upskilling programs are necessary to support businesses in adopting new technologies

Canadian businesses and workers face rapidly evolving demands, particularly with respect to digital skill needs. A pre-career qualification alone is no longer adequate to prepare many workers in information and communications technology (ICT) occupations for their rapidly changing jobs.¹

As businesses adopt new technologies and see shifts in their hiring and skill needs, productivity may increase in the short term; at the same time, it is critical to design policies and programs that help workers keep up with demand to avoid a widening skills gap.²

Employer-led upskilling can’t keep pace with the demand for skills in emerging technologies

For many professionals, lifelong learning occurs on the job. Employers often train staff for new responsibilities or give them time to explore their interests and build new skills.

However, employer-supported upskilling is insufficient to keep pace with changes in the labour market.

First, workers transitioning into automation-resistant jobs may need time to requalify (for example, to acquire a new certification or credential).³ Workers who face displacement and move to a new occupation or career may not have the opportunity to receive employer support.  

Second, Canada currently lags behind its international peers when it comes to several dimensions of adult learning. Canada sees less inclusive ongoing education compared to other OECD countries, including lower participation rates for both unemployed jobseekers and workers in small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).⁴  

While the proportion of Canadian adults receiving employer-sponsored training is slightly above the average for OECD countries at 54%, few Canadian policies aim to incentivize or promote employer-led training directly.⁵

Programs that provide upskilling opportunities can help employers with retention and productivity

Most of Canada’s employers are SMEs, and the barriers these businesses face in supporting upskilling must be addressed. ICTC regularly consults with technology-sector employers, and SMEs have listed several barriers to supporting employee education in these consultations.  

The most significant barriers include financial investment, time spent by senior staff on mentorship, an unclear return on investment, and a lack of awareness of what skills or credentials might be helpful to their business.

Adult education can positively impact individuals' earnings, labour market participation, and occupational mobility. Workplaces can also benefit from reskilling and upskilling programs; employers can invest in a workforce with tailored skills and enhance employee retention.⁶ The Canadian economy can benefit from proactively addressing skills gaps that result from adopting emerging technologies.⁷  

The impact of upskilling opportunities for technology professionals

The Upskilling for Industry Initiative is an Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Canada (ISED) program delivered by Upskill Canada through Palette Skills. It seeks to address Canada’s upskilling challenge by offering industry-aligned programming at a subsidized rate for individuals and SMEs. ICTC is one of several delivery partners that administer training. ICTC’s Beyond the Cloud program focuses on skills for the following career pathways in the “digital infrastructure” cluster:  

• Generative AI Professionals
• Cloud Engineers​
• Cloud Administrators​
• DevOps Specialists
• Back-End Developers​
• Network Administrators​
• Database Administrators

Between November 2023 and November 2024 across Canada, these roles’ occupation groupings saw job posting growth of between 16% and 48% (see note 7 for details).⁸  

ICTC requires applicants to Beyond the Cloud to take a technical skills assessment that qualifies them for their stream of choice, with the exception of some employer-nominated learners. Custom training bundles for each stream include coursework provided by Coursera, Amazon Web Services (AWS), and Microsoft Azure, as well as an optional professional skills and human skills course from ICTC for under/unemployed learners. Program participants spend 10 weeks completing this technical and human skills training, and the first cohorts of participants concluded the program with a capstone project during which they solve real-world problems related to their stream.  

By the start of January 2025, ICTC had 520 participants join Beyond the Cloud. Participants were located across Canada, with the majority in Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Quebec. We have substantial pre-program survey data for 417 participants. To date, 67% of program participants have been newcomers to Canada (i.e., have arrived within the last five years). Approximately one-third of all participants (29%) identified as women and 1.4% as non-binary. In addition, 4.9% of program participants identified as members of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. A further 3.9% of program participants identified as persons with disabilities.

78% of program participants have previous IT industry experience

Before entering the Beyond the Cloud program, 78% of participants had IT industry experience. Furthermore, 39% had worked in a role closely related to their stream of choice and were entering this program to update or advance their skills. Currently, the most popular stream is Cloud Engineering, followed by Back-End Development and Cloud Administration. Participants in the Back-End Development stream were more likely than others to switch from a different occupation to Back-End Development.  

74% of program participants show evidence of skills improvement  

To date, 113 participants have completed a self-assessment at the end of the program. 74% of these participants agreed or strongly agreed that Beyond the Cloud had provided them with the necessary human or professional skills needed for their chosen occupation; 64% agreed with the same statement regarding technical skills. When asked to review the program design, many participants felt that 10 weeks was not enough time to learn the skills required for these roles, with 72% indicating they preferred a longer program that covered topics more in-depth. 

Participants also took a skills test called the “Digital Infrastructure Assessment” (DIA) to qualify for the program, guaranteeing they already had sufficient IT experience to excel in their chosen stream.  

While all participants, with the exception of some employer-sponsored learners, took the DIA as part of their admission to the program, they were also prompted to retake the exam after program completion to assess changes in technical skill proficiency. To date, 59 participants have taken both the pre- and post-DIA. Participants average a 6.8% higher score on their DIA target streams and an 8.3% increase across all streams.

81% of program participants feel ready for their job search

In the program exit survey, 81% of participants were satisfied or very satisfied with the job search readiness and support they received throughout the Beyond the Cloud program. An average of 79% of the participants were satisfied or very satisfied with the instructors at ICTC, who provided support with professional skills and job search readiness coaching.

What we’ve heard from Beyond the Cloud program participants

“The technology space is changing fast, and as a software engineer, I understand the importance of upskilling. Beyond the Cloud helped me not only to grow my skills but also to develop my network. The industry capstone projects helped us apply the technical and soft skills we learn during the program by helping a business solve a specific problem.” – Tina Pham, Beyond the Cloud program participant, Toronto, ON

“The Beyond the Cloud program bridges the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application, preparing participants to tackle real-world challenges effectively. The program’s focus on modern tools and methodologies ensures that graduates are well-prepared to drive innovation and efficiency in cloud operations, making us valuable assets to any IT team.” – Navin Burania, Beyond the Cloud program participant, Kingston, ON

“I was tired of boot camps that never helped me. I joined Beyond the Cloud to get real-world experience in back-end development. It was intensive but rewarding. I successfully implemented complex features…reinforcing my experience and contributing to real projects.” – Arta Farshadi, Beyond the Cloud program participant, Vancouver, BC

“One of the biggest successes from this program has been learning how to break into the job market. Through the program, I’ve been able to present myself to potential employers, and it has given me confidence that I’m heading in the right direction. The skills and insight about how to navigate the IT industry have proven invaluable. It’s opened doors to opportunities I otherwise would not have been able to get.” – Emmanuel Leteipa, Beyond the Cloud program participant, Toronto, ON

Funding for Beyond the Cloud is provided by Upskill Canada (powered by Palette Skills) and the Government of Canada.