CEO Perspective | Tech Workforce Trends Report: Exploring the Findings & What It Means for Our Region

Fostering a Vibrant Tech Community: Actively engaging and supporting the regional tech community is paramount. By facilitating and participating in tech meetups, conferences, hackathons, and similar events, we can forge connections with tech professionals and entrepreneurs, foster knowledge sharing, and cultivate networking opportunities. These initiatives play a pivotal role in cultivating a strong sense of community and positioning our region as an appealing destination for tech talent. Community organizations like Windsor Hackforge and Google Developer Groups exemplify the positive impact of such engagement efforts.

Business Incentives and Support Programs: Create an attractive environment for startups and scale-ups by offering a range of incentives and support programs. These can include tax incentives, grants, venture funds, and pilot initiatives. While financial assistance is valuable, it is also essential to streamline bureaucratic processes and remove red tape to facilitate the growth of startups. A prime example is the city of Phoenix, which opened its doors to Waymo, a self-driving company, allowing them to pilot their Waymo One self-driving taxi service.

Talent Attraction Programs: Establish talent exchange programs that allow tech professionals to work on projects or gain experience in different locations. These programs provide opportunities for professionals to expand their networks, share knowledge, and gain exposure to different tech ecosystems, ultimately fostering cross-pollination of ideas and talent retention. A great example is TechPoint’s full-time paid internship program, XTERN, that places 200+ students with Indiana tech employers. The Xtern program recruits students from 30+ campuses in the region and beyond to foster the next generation of tech builders. Students live on a campus together and share their experiences working for your company with their peers.

Attractive Compensation Packages and Work Arrangements: The study highlights the wage gap between average tech occupations in the USA and Canada, underscoring the importance of offering competitive salaries and benefits to attract top talent. Although Canada has a wage incentive, employers should regularly benchmark their compensation packages against market rates to ensure they remain competitive. Furthermore, embracing the future of work, including hybrid or remote work options, can be a significant draw for tech professionals seeking flexibility and work-life balance.

Invest in Infrastructure: Continually invest in technology infrastructure, including high-speed internet, co-working spaces, and research facilities. A robust tech infrastructure demonstrates your city’s commitment to fostering a conducive environment for tech innovation and growth.

Expanding the Reach of Tech Jobs: The growing significance of tech jobs beyond the traditional tech industry cannot be overlooked. According to a recent report by CompTIA, these positions account for a substantial 59% of all job opportunities. This finding carries particular weight for our region, highlighting the diverse range of tech roles available.

Whether you are an employer looking to hire skilled tech professionals or an individual aspiring to pursue a career in technology, take advantage of the free Tech Jobs Board provided by WETechAlliance. By posting your job openings on this platform, we will actively promote them, ensuring that they reach a wide audience of potential candidates.

Drawing Inspiration from Our Neighbors: Consider the immense possibilities that lie ahead as a community, with the vibrant city of #Detroit right at our doorstep. We are fortunate to have a front-row seat and an opportunity to learn from their remarkable journey of growth and revitalization, particularly in the tech and startup ecosystem. In fact, Detroit’s consistent climb in Startup Genome‘s annual Global Ranking serves as an inspiring testament to their progress. By observing their successes and leveraging their experiences, we can glean valuable insights and apply them to our own region. This close proximity presents a unique advantage that can fuel our own tech ecosystem, promote collaboration, and contribute to our collective development and prosperity.

Other Resources: Workforce WindsorEssex’s Strategies for Talent Attraction and Retention Toolkit for Windsor-Essex or Workforce Windsor-Essex’s 2022-2023 Local Labour Market Plan (pg.48)