Tech workers in Canada’s nonprofit sector earn, on average, more than $30,000 less per year compared to their counterparts in other industries, according to a recent report by the Canadian Centre for Nonprofit Digital Resilience (CCNDR).
The report highlights significant pay disparities and skill gaps, contributing to the tech talent shortage in the nonprofit sector.
The research, part of the Futureproofing the Community Service Workforce initiative, analyzes Canadian census data to assess the size, composition, and pay disparities of the tech workforce within the nonprofit sector.
Key findings
Workforce composition: Only 1 per cent of nonprofit workers hold tech roles, compared to a 5 per cent industry average. This disparity is attributed to both lower demand and a reduced ability to attract tech talent.
Pay disparities: Tech workers in nonprofits earn substantially less than those in other sectors. For instance, information system specialists, the most common tech role in nonprofits, earn 20 per cent less than their counterparts in other industries.
Diversity: The nonprofit tech workforce is more diverse in terms of gender and Indigenous identity. Women are twice as likely to work in tech roles in nonprofits compared to the wider economy, and visible minorities are overrepresented in these positions.
Pay inequities: Despite higher diversity, women and Indigenous tech workers in nonprofits are paid less. Women earn 86 per cent of what men earn in similar roles, and Indigenous tech workers face similar pay gaps compared to non-Indigenous peers.
The nonprofit sector is a major employer in Canada, with 2.5 million Canadians employed in the sector as of 2021, including 618,000 in community nonprofits. Nonprofits contributed 8.3 per cent to Canada’s economy in 2021, according to Statistics Canada.
Research goals
The Futureproofing the Community Service Workforce initiative, led by Imagine Canada, the Dais at Toronto Metropolitan University, the Digital Governance Council (DGC), and Blueprint, aims to address the digital skills gap in the nonprofit sector. The Canadian Centre for Nonprofit Digital Resilience facilitates the sharing of information on this project.
A companion study, “Digital Skills Demand in the Nonprofit Sector,” examines the state of digital skills needed by all workers in the nonprofit sector, including Information Communications Technology (ICT) workers and non-ICT workers.
Imagine Canada, a national charitable organization, advocates for charities and nonprofits in Canada. The Dais at Toronto Metropolitan University focuses on public policy and leadership. The Digital Governance Council and Blueprint use evidence to inform policy and drive social change. The CCNDR works to enable a digitally proficient nonprofit sector in Canada.
This report underscores the need for greater investment in the nonprofit sector’s tech workforce to bridge skill and pay gaps and ensure nonprofits can leverage technology effectively.
