73% of employed Canadians are expected to be mobile by 2016, according to IDC; office-based mobile workers represent largest contingent
Jan. 31, 2013 – International Data Corp Canada explores the nature of this country’s mobile workforce in its recent report, Canadian Mobile Worker 2012-2016 Forecast. This report defines the various types of mobile worker and breaks down population and shares for 2012, which currently applies to 68.9% of employed Canadians. IDC expects this to number to rise to 73% by 2016.
IDC believes that ever-increasing commute times, a growing desire for work-life balance, the proliferation of mobile devices and cloud computing, as well as the overall improvement in network speeds all serve to contribute to Canada’s burgeoning mobile workforce. Key highlights from the 2012 forecast include the following:
- Office-based mobile workers represent largest segment. 52.5% of employed mobile workers in Canada are office-based, growing at a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of 2.4% over the forecast period.
- Employed Americans are more mobile than Canadian workers. This gap will narrow significantly by 2016, according to IDC.
- Small companies are more likely to employ mobile workers. Small companies will need scalable and affordable solutions for dealing with a more mobile workforce- whether that is the hardware or software solutions surrounding the devices and the employee.
“With the growth of tablets and smartphones, improved network connectivity, and employee demand for greater work-life balance, Canadians are increasingly empowered with the tools to enable productive mobile work,” said Krista Napier, Senior Analyst & Tracker Team Lead at Mobility. “We expect to see healthy growth in the number of mobile workers in Canada over the forecast period, with the Canadian mobile worker population expected to increase from 68.9% in 2012 to 73% by 2016.”
About IDC
International Data Corporation (IDC) is the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology, telecommunications, and consumer technology markets. IDC helps IT professionals, business executives, and the investment community to make fact-based decisions on technology purchases and business strategy. More than 1,000 IDC analysts provide global, regional, and local expertise on technology and industry opportunities and trends in over 110 countries. For more than 46 years, IDC has provided strategic insights to help our clients achieve their key business objectives. IDC is a subsidiary of IDG, the world’s leading technology media, research, and events company. You can learn more about IDC by visiting www.idc.com.
SOURCE: International Data Group
