Booming Tech-Sector Ready to Overcome Obstacles
Joe Perkins
CTV
VICTORIA — Despite more than two billion dollars in revenue last year, Victoria’s leading industry isn’t immune to market challenges.
According to VIATeC’s Dan Gunn, finding people will always be an obstacle. “Talent is going to be the big fight that all tech-companies have in the future. It’s the number one challenge for tech-companies today,” he says.
With Microsoft announcing its arrival in 2012, Gun believes the success of Victoria’s tech-sector speaks for itself.
“It has a fabulous world class quality of life and all kinds of great, young, intelligent talent” says Chris Robertson the Director of Microsoft Studios Victoria.
Along with attracting talent, housing costs appear to be a barrier to future growth.
Events like Thursday’s Discover Tectoria hope to attract young students considering a career in technology. Gunn says the message is clear: “if they stay in science and math they can have a great career and they can have that job here”.
Nearly half of the industry’s total revenue in 2011 was generated by the top 25 companies in the sector. The median revenue for companies was near $16 million, up from $15 million last year and $11.5 million five years ago.
