Skills for Hire Atlantic participation by the numbers
1,930
Learners
52%
Newcomers
46%
Women
55,000+
Hours of Pluralsight content consumed
Who they are
Digital Nova Scotia is dedicated to growing the province’s digital economy
Founded in 1989, this not-for-profit organization leads the SFHA program, delivering tech training to residents across Atlantic Canada. In partnership with Bluedrop ISM and funded by the Government of Canada, the program has supported thousands of learners across six cohorts. Its focus on accessibility, career readiness, and industry certification helps promote inclusive workforce development across the region.
The challenge
Bridging the digital divide for underrepresented learners
Atlantic Canada’s economy is accelerating toward a digital future, but many residents—especially newcomers, career changers, and those underemployed—have historically had limited access to affordable, accessible entry points into tech careers. With rising demand for cloud, cybersecurity, and data roles across the region, Digital Nova Scotia launched Skills for Hire Atlantic (SFHA), in partnership with Bluedrop ISM, to help close this gap. The program required a scalable, effective, and learner-centered solution to deliver job-ready skills and maintain engagement across a fully virtual, 16-week model.
The solution
Scalable, hands-on learning aligned to certifications
Pluralsight became the foundational learning engine of SFHA, supporting learners across two key streams: cybersecurity and data analytics. Each participant receives access to curated Pluralsight learning paths aligned to certifications such as AWS Cloud Foundations, ISC2 CC, and Tableau Desktop Specialist. These asynchronous learning experiences are paired with 840 hours of live sessions, hands-on demos, mentorship, and teaching assistant guidance.
Pluralsight gave us the scalable curriculum and flexibility when we needed it most. With their support, we can update content, troubleshoot onboarding, and personalize learning, all while staying under budget.
Amin Zribi
Project Manager, Skills for Hire Atlantic
Collaboration that delivers
Pluralsight’s role extends beyond content delivery, with the team collaborating closely with Digital Nova Scotia to:
- Develop customized learning channels for each cohort
- Provide onboarding and offboarding support for hundreds of learners
- Track progress using Skill IQ and LMS-integrated analytics
- Eliminate the need to build internal curriculum from scratch
- Offer pathways for advanced learners to explore deeper technical topics
Integration with Disco LMS allowed Digital Nova Scotia to streamline learner communication and boost retention. Even though the program is tuition-free, SFHA saw high levels of engagement and satisfaction by leveraging real-time interaction, social learning, and accessible support.
Key benefits of Pluralsight for Digital Nova Scotia
Inclusive upskilling
52% of learners are newcomers. 87% say they improved their technical skills.
Job-ready talent
More than 600 graduates have secured jobs or continued in tech-related education.
Industry alignment
900+ certifications have been issued in AWS, Tableau, ISC2, and other critical technologies.
Curriculum simplified
Pluralsight eliminated the need to build a curriculum from scratch—saving time and resources.
What’s next
A program prepared for the digital revolution
Now in its sixth cohort, SFHA continues to grow and evolve. With more than 450 learners currently enrolled, the program remains focused on cybersecurity and data analytics while exploring new ways to deepen career services and strengthen job pipelines. Digital Nova Scotia is actively engaging with employers across the region, encouraging them to connect with graduates who are ready to contribute and grow into mid-level roles.
By offering rigorous, hands-on, and certification-aligned learning through Pluralsight, Digital Nova Scotia is building the workforce Atlantic Canada needs to compete and thrive in a technology-driven economy.
Pluralsight has been a key part of my learning journey, helping me deepen my understanding and explore new topics. It's hands-on, clearly explained, and well-structured content makes it an excellent companion for ongoing growth. I especially appreciate how accessible the materials are, even when covering unfamiliar topics.
Violeta G.
SFHA participant
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