OTTAWA, Ontario, Oct. 08, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC) today launched a new evidence-based definition and measurement framework that provides a modernized picture of Canada’s digital economy and workforce.
Employment in the digital economy is growing considerably faster than in the broader economy, highlighting the expansion of digital capabilities in Canada’s workforce and economic growth. Under the new framework, ICTC estimates that approximately 2.7 million people, or 12.7% of Canada’s workforce, are employed in Canada’s digital economy (June 2026).
Understanding where digital transformation is happening and the effects on businesses and workers is important as Canada invests in strengthening productivity, innovation, and economic competitiveness in an increasingly AI-driven global economy. The framework identifies four categories of digital occupations while capturing workers in non-digital occupations employed in digital economy sectors, reflecting digital activity both within traditional technology industries and across the broader economy where technology, data, and digital skills have shaped how Canadians work and businesses compete.
“Digital technology increasingly underpins how Canada’s economy operates, and AI is accelerating that transformation,” said Anne Patterson, Chief Research & Communications Officer at ICTC. “Canada’s ability to compete will depend on how effectively businesses adopt technology, workers develop the skills to use it, and those investments translate into greater productivity and innovation. This framework brings leading international approaches to digital economy measurement into the Canadian context, giving us a clearer picture of where transformation is happening and how jobs and skills are changing. It also gives Canada a stronger evidence base to inform decisions at home and bring its own experience and strengths to the international stage.”
The modernized definition and framework for Canada’s digital economy will support national and provincial forecasting and skills intelligence for policymakers, industry leaders, and other stakeholders by providing a consistent way to track changing occupations, labour demand, skills needs, and digital economic activity over time. Better measurement can help Canada understand where technology is driving economic and workforce change, where unmet demand for emerging skills could constrain growth and innovation, and whether investments in technologies such as AI are translating into stronger productive capacity.
The framework draws on internationally validated skills data mapped against Canada’s National Occupational Classification (NOC) and North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), while building on existing Canadian and international approaches to measuring digital transformation. Its development was informed by work from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the International Labour Organisation (ILO), Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED), Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), Statistics Canada, and extensive industry and policymaker consultations. By bringing leading international approaches to digital economy measurement into the Canadian context, the framework also gives Canada a stronger evidence base for contributing to global discussions about productivity, workforce transformation and economic competitiveness.
Canada’s economy is changing. Understanding its digital transformation is key to unlocking greater productivity, growth, and economic potential. To explore ICTC’s new definition of Canada’s digital economy, four-tier occupational framework, and approach to measuring digital economy performance, read the full report here.
About ICTC
The Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC) is a neutral, not-for-profit national centre of expertise with the mission of strengthening Canada’s digital advantage in the global economy. For over 30 years, ICTC has delivered forward-looking research, practical policy advice, and capacity-building solutions for individuals and businesses. The organization’s goal is to ensure that technology is utilized to drive economic growth and innovation and that Canada’s workforce remains competitive on a global scale.
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