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It was a watershed moment, but one that is only now coming to the forefront of public consciousness.

Since 2008, the B.C. tech sector has been an engine of growth for the province, growing at twice the rate of the overall provincial economy. The recently published 2016 B.C. Technology Report Card showed that the tech sector grew by more than 14 per cent in the past two years, far outpacing the growth rates in Ontario and Quebec and even the entire U.S. market.

This amazing growth story has led to a tech sector that now accounts for $26 billion in revenue, $15 billion in GDP, 92,700 employees and $8 billion in wages

The most remarkable aspect of the B.C. tech story has been the growth in jobs and wages. Tech jobs earn wages that are 76-per-cent higher than the average B.C. wage. At an average of nearly $82,000 per year, tech jobs represent one of the few safeguards against rising affordability issues.

The demand for more tech workers is palpable. Tech companies from small to large, across all regions of the province, are clamouring for more people, with a diverse range of job opportunities including sales, marketing, operations, customer service, product management, technology development and finance. The most pronounced needs are in tech-relevant positions — design, software development and engineering — and this has led to an all-time high demand for training and spaces at B.C.’s colleges and universities.

Earlier this year the provincial government published a comprehensive framework in the #BCTECH Strategy for growing the tech sector in British Columbia. Although many provinces have attempted similar undertakings, the #BCTECH Strategy is the first of its kind that reflects the priorities set out by the tech community in the B.C. Tech Association’s 4-Point Plan and marks a crucial step in orienting policies and programs in support of a technology-based economy.