Rotary Career Symposium

06 10 | 23RD ROTARY CAREER SYMPOSIUM T hink tech workers are just a bunch of guys in thick glasses and Star Wars t-shirts, hunched over laptops at software companies? Think again. Careers in the growing technology sector in our province these days are so varied that jobs in tech can be found in nearly every industry in Manitoba. "A lot of people, especially young people, don't realize how many different kinds of jobs there are available in the tech sector," says Lori Wheeler, Chief Marketing Officer for Tech Manitoba. "Organizations you may not think of as tech companies are hiring more people to work in their IT departments than ever. There are tech jobs in agriculture, health care, education, insurance, entertainment — you name it. We are continually surprised to learn about companies we didn't even know were here, doing amazing things in tech." Tech Manitoba, or TechMB, is the province's industry-led association that works with local tech companies to help them thrive and grow through collaboration, education and promotion. TechMB will be at the Rotary Career Symposium as part of the Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME) Discovery Zone where students and job seekers can take part in interactive displays and hands-on activities in the "Tech Hub." "We want to show and educate people as to the different aspects of tech and how it can work into your career plan or your post- secondary plan," says Marie Hacault, TechMB's Program Manager. "We really want to let them know about not just the scope and breadth of possible careers right here in Manitoba, but that jobs in tech are typically well-paid, especially compared to other entry level jobs. And it's a growing sector — many of the jobs students in high school today will be doing 10 years from now haven't even been invented yet," Wheeler adds. At last count, in the fall of 2019, Tech MB estimated there were nearly 36,000 professionals working in Manitoba's digital economy and one in every four is a woman. Virtual reality designer, 3D animation artist, educational software developer, cyber security analyst, app developer — the list of possible interesting careers in tech right here in Manitoba just keeps growing. The problem is, as more and more jobs require technical skills, there simply aren't enough trained workers in the province to fill the growing need. "There are some people who worry and say jobs are being taken over by robots. But there are so many jobs opening up, there will not be a shortage of jobs. What we are short of is individuals who are keen on learning about technology and who are skilled in fulfilling those roles," Wheeler says. Luckily, the list of places Manitobans can train for a career in tech is long. All of the province's universities and colleges offer programs and courses for the tech sector. "Post-secondary institutions in Manitoba are being reactive and making changes," explains Hacault. "Red River College and the Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology both offer very relevant courses that have been developed with input from industry. They want to be sure their graduates are filling the needs of the employers. The University of Winnipeg and University of Manitoba have both reached out to us because many of our members have given them insight and provided direction in terms of bringing on brand new courses— for example a course in AI (artificial intelligence)." While tech seems to be the way of the future, it's important to recognize the value of technology needs to be coupled with basic human skills that can't be replicated, Wheeler says. "Communication, collaboration and empathy are still things every young person entering the work force needs to have. Being able to present your ideas, and to have critical thinking around problem solving — those human qualities are always going to matter." Tech takes over BY SHERRY KANIUGA Students take part in Digital World Tour workshops at Tech Manitoba's Disrupted conference in January. Photos by Jason Halstead

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