OCRI Ottawa Technology Industry Survey Methodology

Every year, OCRI conducts a survey of companies operating within the knowledge-based industries in Ottawa, with the primary purpose to provide a database of information about technology service providers and products within the Ottawa region. The Technology Industry Database is available online at www.ottawaregion.com year-round. An annual tabulation of employees and companies operating within these industries is released to the community every January.

Knowledge-based industries are defined as those which are intensive in their inputs of technology and human capital. Locally, this has been defined as those companies that classify themselves as operating within the following sectors tracked by OCRI. These include Cleantech, Contact Centre/Customer Centre, Convergent Medical Devices, Defense & Security, eBusiness, Health & Drug Discovery, Knowledge-based Support Services, Photonics, Semiconductor, Software, Telecommunications and Digital Media.

It should be noted that industry definitions and classifications vary widely by country and therefore do not allow for comparative quantitative evaluation.

Over 88 per cent of companies operating within Ottawa’s knowledge-based industries respond to the survey. The survey is conducted through an online automated process, with companies asked to confirm and update their information which includes total headcount. Companies are also asked to nominate a single primary industry cluster in which they operate, and separately, the additional clusters in which they participate and conduct business. The date of the most recent update for each entry is visible online in the Technology Industry Database.

The total number of employees and companies operating within the knowledge-based industries in Ottawa is thus based directly on the data received from companies within OCRI’s database.

The difference between StatsCan and OCRI numbers:

StatsCan base their high tech employment numbers (‘labour force survey - LFS’) on a category they have developed, known as ‘computers and telecommunications - CT’.

This has been made by grouping two industries and thus, their NSAIC codes, together:

• Manufacturing, and
• Services.

The following industries and NSAIC codes make up the CT sector according to the LFS:

3333 - Commercial and service industry machinery manufacturing
3341 - Computer & Peripheral Equip. Manuf.
3342 - Communications Equip. Manuf.
3343 - Audio & Video Equip. Manuf.
3344 - Semiconductor & Other Electronic Component Manuf.
3345 - Navigational, Medical & Control Instruments Manuf.
4173 - Computer & Comm. Equip. & Supplies Whol-Distr.
5112 - Software Publishers
5171 - Wired Telecommunications Carriers
5172 - Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite)
5173 - Telecommunications Resellers
5174 - Satellite Telecommunications
5175 - Cable and Other Program Distribution
5179 - Other telecommunications
5181 - Internet Service Providers, Web Search Portals
5182 - Data Processing, Hosting, and Related Services
5415 - Computer Systems Design & Related Serv.
8112 - Electronic & Precision Equip. Repair & Maintenance

The StatsCan high tech employment numbers thus exclude positions such as consultants, some professional service positions, contract workers, and those that work in tech-related industries yet do not fall under one of the above NSAIC codes. For example, certain defence industries, digital media, environmental and clean technologies and life science technologies are not included in their tally. These differences account for the largest difference between the OCRI and StatsCan numbers.

The StatsCan survey is done as a sample survey (smaller sample size), with a projection then made for the population as a whole. It also surveys households rather than the technology employers directly.

OCRI’s survey reflects the current, annual status of the ever-evolving knowledge-based industries in Ottawa and is inclusive of all the employees in the formally tracked industry sectors.