Digital Economy Pulse: Workforce Development in Canada, 2026

Canada’s digital economy is a key driver of innovation and growth — shaping the way Canadians live, work, connect, and create. As the digital economy grows and evolves, it continues to face persistent challenges around representation, equity, and the full integration of available talent. This Quarterly Digital Economy Pulse provides a comprehensive look at the talent powering Canada’s digital economy, exploring workforce composition, gaps and barriers facing digital talent, and strategies that can help build a more inclusive, innovative, and competitive workforce. 

Prepared by ICTC as part of its Quarterly Digital Economy Pulse series, this report offers recommendations to support a more inclusive and well-structured talent pipeline leading to a stronger, more resilient economy.

Key Takeaways

• Equity-deserving communities remain underrepresented in the digital economy. Women’s representation increased only slightly over nearly two decades, from 30.5% in 2006 to 32.6% in 2024. As of 2021, just 1.4% of employed Indigenous-identifying individuals were working in technology occupations.
• Youth participation in the digital economy has declined over the past two decades, while the share of workers aged 55 years and older has grown.
• As of 2024, immigrants accounted for 37% of the digital economy workforce, but many were underutilized despite possessing technical skills.
• Educational attainment in the digital economy has steadily increased: the proportion of workers holding graduate degrees rose from 11% in 2006 to 20% in 2024. During the same period, the proportion holding bachelor’s degrees rose from 29% to 40%. University degrees are increasingly seen as a baseline qualification.
• Employer-led upskilling and work-integrated learning (WIL) programs are crucial for bridging skills gaps and providing new graduates with practical experience.ls (IEHP), and protected time and coaching so XR becomes routine practice rather than an optional add-on.