Focus: Information Technology (IT)
In the IT field, there is a growing demand for well-qualified individuals at all levels to engage in a wide range of careers such as project management, UX design, software development, just to name a few. These opportunities can be accessed locally through traditional employment as well as globally through various freelancing online platforms. As a result, the YAC program focuses on entry-level IT careers or on developing IT skills to support the start-up or growth of a small business venture. The Future of Jobs Report 2020 recently published by the World Economic Forum (WEF) points to an increase in the demand for online training to reskill labor to meet labor needs in the future. Interestingly, in addition to the increase in demand for technical training, the report also points to an increase in demand for personal and professional development. Our youth must be certified and must also be trained to engage professionally and to understand the pressing need to become lifelong learners. Just having "subjects" is inadequate for effective engagement in today's world.
The following quote from WEF succinctly points to the urgency with which we must approach the opportunities that are clearly before us today:
"We find ourselves at a defining moment: the decisions and choices we make today will determine the course of entire generations’ lives and livelihoods. We have the tools at our disposal. The bounty of technological innovation which defines our current era can be leveraged to unleash human potential. " (WEF, 2020).