THUNDER BAY – The lack of student interest in the information technology sector has led to the creation of an online database that will help match the regional supply and demand for talent.
In an effort to connect businesses with information technology skills in the Northwestern Ontario, the NWO Innovation Centre released an information and communication technology online database Thursday morning.
The database allows businesses to easily discover individuals with desirable skill sets for short-term projects or long-term employment.
ICT advisor Alan Auld said lately there’s been a slight disconnect between businesses and talent.
“After interviewing students from the college and university a lot of them are saying there’s no good jobs here, no high-tech companies...but there are,” Auld said.
“When I asked if they’ve heard of them the students said no and that’s a problem because they’re already searching (for jobs) and thinking to get a good job in technology you have to go to Toronto.”
Auld added that there has been some great success stories in Thunder Bay and many of them are helping perfect the ICT Connection database.
About 38 per cent of information technology students are looking to stay in Northwestern Ontario after graduation.
This database encourages people to stay in Thunder Bay and for businesses it’s a huge plus to find somebody in Thunder Bay with the same skillset rather than somebody outside of the city.
At this point, there are 66 individuals and businesses registered in the database.
“That sounds like a small number, but in terms of the amount of ICT professionals in Thunder Bay, it’s a pretty good start,” Auld said.
The database also helps students looking for experience and that’s one of the biggest challenges for students.
Students want a job, but employers are saying they don’t have enough experience other than school.
“This gives them an opportunity to work on their education and freelance to gain that experience, so they hit the ground running when a big job comes up.”
NWO Innovation Centre manager Judy Sander hopes the database can connect individuals with businesses to get more experience.
“We are hoping that we can use this information and some of the other information that we have been gathering to encourage people to look at information technology as a career,” Sander said.
Sanders added that the centre is working hard to help companies grow and succeed, but if they don’t have the talent they can’t do the hiring.
About two thirds of the Innovation Centre's client base is in the IT sector and officials realize that access to the talent is the key component for growth.
She hopes the database will encourage more students to look at information technology as a career choice and realize there’s opportunity in the community and region.
