Upskilling Canadians for In-Demand Tech Careers

The Issue

NPower Canada’s Junior Information Technology programs address the challenge of underemployment and unemployment among individuals from equity-deserving groups, particularly those facing systemic barriers in the labour market. The programs focus on providing digital skills training and professional development to help participants secure tech-enabled jobs. 

Efforts to support marginalized individuals in the labour market have often struggled with scalability and sustainable impact. Traditional employment programs may not have fully addressed the specific needs of equity-deserving groups, such as the need for foundational digital skills, professional networks and an understanding of workplace culture in Canada. NPower Canada’s program attempts to fill these gaps by providing a comprehensive, sector-based employment solution.

What We Investigated

NPower Canada’s Junior IT Analyst and Junior Data Analyst programs provide sector-specific training for individuals from equity-deserving groups. The programs offer a mix of digital skills training, professional skills development and wraparound supports. They are delivered online to accommodate various participant needs. The randomized controlled trial conducted during this project assessed the impact of the programs on participants’ employment, earnings and further education outcomes.

NPower’s programs offer free, accessible training that includes both independent and group work. Their programs aim to provide participants with the tools needed to secure sustainable employment in the digital economy.

The interim evaluation report explores the following questions:

• What are early insights into participant experiences in the program?
  • Is the program reaching its target population?
  • Do participants complete the program? Are they satisfied with the model? What do they see as strengths and areas for improvement? What factors hindered completion for those who did not complete, and what additional supports might be needed? 
• What are early insights into the outcomes of participants?
  • What labour market and educational outcomes do participants achieve? How do these outcomes vary across participants and across program streams?

What We’re Learning

The program reported high completion rates (86%) and satisfaction levels among participants, with 79% recommending the program to others. Participants particularly valued the free, online availability of the program, the structure and pacing of the curriculum and the support from dedicated staff. 

However, challenges were noted in the pacing of content for participants with varying experience levels, the overreliance on Coursera content, and the misalignment between skills/interests and job opportunities. 

Employment outcomes were positive; employment rates increased 25 percentage points and median earnings increased 66.7% from $24,000 at baseline to $40,000 at 12 months post-program. These results highlight the program’s potential to make a significant impact on participants’ career trajectories, despite some challenges in content delivery and job alignment.

Why It Matters

The success of NPower Canada’s programs highlights the value of sector-based training for equity-deserving groups, particularly in providing practical skills, work experience and networking opportunities. Policymakers and workforce development professionals should note the program’s adaptability and alignment with labour market needs as key factors in boosting employment and earnings. This project underscores the importance of flexible, targeted training models for supporting marginalized populations. It also offers valuable insights for shaping broader workforce development policies.

State of Skills:
Leveraging the Skills of Newcomers

The quality and intensity of employer engagement is critical to the overall success of interventions to support newcomers.

Read Thematic Report

What’s Next

The final report will include the full randomized controlled trial results. It will compare outcomes between the treatment and comparison groups and provide more detailed analyses by program stream and socio-demographic characteristics. This will help to further refine the program’s approach and identify opportunities for scaling and improving its impact.