Project Insights Report

Upskilling Canadians for In-Demand Tech Careers

Partners

NPower Canada

Locations

Alberta

British Columbia

Nova Scotia

Ontario

Quebec

Investment

$3,891,000

Published

October 2024

Executive Summary

NPower Canada’s programs aim to provide unemployed and underemployed individuals from equity-deserving groups with the skills needed to launch meaningful digital careers. The programs part of this pilot project, which took place from May 2020 to August 2024, used a randomized controlled trial in Ontario and Alberta to assess the impact of NPower Canada’s Junior Information Technology programs on participants’ employment and earnings outcomes. The goal of this project was to equip participants with the basic tech skills and job placement opportunities to obtain junior-level jobs in ICT. This project specifically targeted adults facing labour market disadvantages due to race, gender, immigration status or disability.

Key Insights

Employment rates among participants increased by 25 percentage points from baseline to the 12-month follow-up.

Newcomers to Canada found additional value in the program through opportunities to gain Canadian work experience, build networks and understand workplace culture, which led to higher satisfaction compared to Canadian-born participants.

The median salary for employed participants increased by 66.7%, from $24,000 at baseline to $40,000 at 12 months post-program.

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.

Diverse youth working on their laptops

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.

Youth working on a technical project

State of Skills:
Enhancing Career Prospects and Well-Being for Canadian Youth

Focus on early career guidance programs to introduce youth to a range of career paths, empowering them to make informed decisions with a strong emphasis on inclusivity and accessibility.

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.

Insights Report

PDF

FSC Insights

Interim Report

PDF

Upskilling Canadian Youth for In-Demand Tech Careers

Analysis

PDF

Measuring outcomes of NPower Canada alumni pre and post COVID-19 onset

Have questions about our work? Do you need access to a report in English or French? Please contact communications@fsc-ccf.ca.

More from FSC

Two pilots sit in a cockpit on the runway preparing for flight.
Research

Understanding Future Skills: Case of the Montreal Aerospace Cluster

The report examines how organizations contribute to the development and management of talent at the regional level, with a specific focus on the case study of the Montreal aerospace cluster.
Woman looking at computer and coding.
Research

A Foundation For the Next Normal: Outlook of Technology Adoption & its Impact in the Canadian Workplace

This document reflects results on a prospective future before a seismic shift occurred. The research we present here is no longer a good indication of what is to come, but a good indication of how things were.
Person wearing blue hard hat and smiling
Project

Virtual recruitment & assessment for the unionized construction industry

Project to create a virtual recruitment and assessment centre in four regions across Canada to recruit underrepresented populations into the unionized construction industry.
View more

How to Cite This Report
Blueprint. (2024). Interim Project Insights Report: Upskilling Canadians for in-demand tech careers NPower Canada. Toronto: Future Skills Centre. https://fsc-ccf.ca/projects/npower/