Publication Date
IT Employment Trends in Quebec and Canada
Quebec is a fertile ground for technology on the North American continent. Montreal is globally recognized as a hub of expertise in AI, video games, and digital creation. But what about our IT jobs?
Overview of the IT workforce situation in Quebec and across the country.
A Consistent High Demand for Qualified IT Experts
The low unemployment rate in the technology field is proof: in October 2025, the unemployment rate was 3% for technology jobs in Canada. This means that companies are struggling to recruit, which can be advantageous for individuals looking to advance their careers or negotiate better employment conditions.
It’s the most specialized positions that are in highest demand, even though they are more niche. The demand aligns with companies’ ambitions: cloud computing, systems architecture, Azure analysts, project managers, and more.
This is also reported by Les Affaires magazine in its special feature on Digital Transformation and Workforce. On the other hand, demand for entry-level positions has decreased, as highlighted by the Institut du Québec: from 2022 to 2025, employment for 15 to 29-year-olds in IT dropped by 18%, while for those aged 30 and over, it increased by 3%. According to the Institut du Québec, generative artificial intelligence and its automation potential could be contributing factors to this slowdown in demand for entry-level IT positions.
Specializing Skills
Given the vast scope of IT and the increasing complexity of systems, companies are seeking IT specialists with specific skills, particularly in:
- cloud computing (solutions architect, etc.),
- cybersecurity (analyst, security architect, etc.),
- software and application development (DevOps engineer, developer, programmer, etc.),
- artificial intelligence and automation (ERP business analyst, etc.),
- data science and machine learning (data scientist, machine learning engineer, analyst, etc.).
A Refocusing on Core Business for Companies
Given the shortage of IT workers and the costs associated with hiring, more and more organizations are turning to outsourcing or temporary IT staffing.
Among our clients, we’re seeing a shift in IT jobs toward computer systems that deliver real added value and are more specific or strategic to their industry or business reality. These companies aim to develop lasting expertise in these roles with the help of experienced consultants. In contrast, for more peripheral IT systems—which remain important—the demand for outsourced IT services is increasing significantly.
A Persistent Gap Between Men and Women in IT
In Quebec, across all age groups, women remain underrepresented in jobs related to natural and applied sciences, including information technology. Among those aged 15 to 29, only 4.2% of women work in this sector compared to 9% of men in the Quebec labor market. The gap widens among the 30 to 64 age group, with 4.4% of women versus 14.4% of men.
Fortunately, companies are increasingly committed to diversity and inclusion. As a result, hiring underrepresented individuals in the workforce, especially women in IT, is frequently encouraged—as long as they possess the skills required for the positions in question. This is the case at ITI, which subscribes to the Equal Employment Opportunity Program.
An Exodus to Watch
According to Statistics Canada, “research and development in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and computer science (STEM) are drivers of economic growth. This is why the potential brain drain in STEM fields is an increasing concern.”
According to the report Retention of Graduates in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Computer Science in Canada, post-secondary and graduate studies in Canada increased from 2010 to 2021, both among canadian and international students. Canadian graduates from leading universities and those holding doctorates are more likely to leave Canada to seek higher-paying jobs elsewhere. Since technology skills are easily transferable from one country to another, local businesses and governments need to work harder to attract and retain these graduates.
For IT Jobs, There’s ITI.
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