Top 5 Tech roles driving business growth in Canada

Canada is emerging as a global tech talent hub, with thriving AI ecosystems in Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver, and rising demand for cloud, security, and automation expertise.

Explore the five tech roles shaping Canada’s digital future in 2025, backed by insights from the 2025 Hays Global Tech Talent Survey, Canadian labor data, and Horsefly Analytics. Learn how our Tech Talent Explorer helps you align hiring strategies with local realities and attract the talent your business needs to grow.

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5 Tech jobs powering innovation: Key insights

Backed by global experience data and local labour trends, these five roles are critical to future-proofing your workforce:

• Cloud Architects: Build the secure, scalable infrastructure your digital growth depends on. With demand surging in Toronto and Vancouver, securing top talent now is a strategic advantage. 
• Cloud Solutions Engineers: Turn cloud strategy into execution. As finance and healthcare digitize, the shortage of experienced engineers in Canada could slow your transformation.
• DevSecOps Professionals: Embed security into every development cycle. With Canada’s talent pool still maturing, early investment ensures resilience and compliance.
• AI Engineers: Drive innovation in AI-powered products and services. With a younger global talent base, tapping into Canada’s AI hubs like Montreal and Ottawa can accelerate your edge.
• RPA Developers: Scale automation across operations. As demand rises in logistics, finance, and government, global hiring may be key to unlocking efficiency gains.

Canada’s tech hiring landscape: Background

With employment in tech-adjacent sectors rising by 2.3% and wages up 3.4% year-over-year, competition for talent is intensifying.

How these roles drive business success

Cloud Architects

Globally, 81% of Cloud Architects have 8+ years of experience. In Canada, demand is concentrated in Toronto and Vancouver, where cloud infrastructure is foundational to digital transformation. But attracting this talent takes more than salary, remote-first flexibility and strategic alignment are key. With only 15% of North American tech job postings offering fully remote options (CBRE, 2024), Canadian employers who lead with flexibility have a clear edge.

Cloud Solutions Engineers

In Australia and New Zealand, 88% of Cloud Solutions Engineers have over seven years of experience. In Canada, however, these professionals are in short supply, especially in finance and healthcare, where digital transformation is accelerating. The professional and business services sector is one of Canada’s fastest-growing tech employers, but the talent pipeline hasn’t kept pace, making this a high-impact role to prioritize.

DevSecOps Professionals

Globally, about two-thirds of DevSecOps professionals have 8+ years of experience. In Canada, that number is closer to 60%. It’s a small gap, but it matters, especially as security roles expand in sectors like logistics, finance, and public infrastructure. With the Canadian talent pool still maturing, organizations that invest early in internal upskilling or international sourcing will be better positioned to meet compliance and resilience goals.

AI Engineers

AI Engineers are a young, fast-growing global talent pool of 55% have under eight years of experience. In Canada, the momentum is just as strong. Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal account for 60% of Canada’s AI-specialty talent, and Toronto ranks among the top 5 North American cities for AI competitiveness (CBRE, 2024). Canadian candidates are drawn to roles that emphasize ethical innovation and purpose-driven work, and that’s where employers can really stand out.

RPA Developers

In Southern Europe, up to 76% of RPA developers are highly experienced. In Canada, demand is rising fast, especially in transportation, logistics, and government services. The opportunity is there, but so is the pressure to find or develop the right talent quickly. For many Canadian employers, this means looking beyond borders or investing in rapid upskilling to meet automation goals.

Next steps for your organization

The race for top IT talent is on. As businesses evolve, securing the right professionals in cloud, AI, security, and automation is critical for staying competitive. Our Tech Talent Explorer equips you with the insight, rather than answers so you can rethink, refine, and realign your talent strategy based on what’s happening in your market.

Explore our Tech Talent Explorer to start building your future-ready team.