The Technology Councils of North America (TECNA) and Canada’s Tech Network have released Tech Workforce Trends: The Migration of Tech Workers and Tech Jobs Since The Pandemic, a new report exploring globalization and migration of tech occupations in Canada. The findings highlight that between April 2022 and March 2023, 32,115 new workers came to Canada with the most migrating from India and Nigeria.
This move is due largely in part to a more immigration-friendly national policy and a labor cost advantage. The report also highlighted the most attractive Canadian cities to top tech talent, with Mississauga, Ont., ranking first followed by Montreal, Que. and Waterloo, Ont.
Ontario boasts the largest number of tech workers within the country but smaller provinces, such as Saskatchewan and Newfoundland and Labrador, are experiencing the most rapid growth. Both reported the largest year-over-year growth in their respective tech workforces, at 16.3 percent.
Windsor, Ontario has seen the highest growth in tech workers over the past year (28%), followed by Cape Breton, Nova Scotia and Timmins, Ontario. This shift is reflective of broader workforce trends, with largely remote tech workers moving away from major metropolitan areas toward more rural locations.
“Our goal at TECNA is to serve as the collective voice of the regional tech hubs and tech associations we represent to help build the North American technology economy. This report is an important step in supporting this growth and helping our Canadian members better understand the state of the current workforce ecosystem,” said Yvonne Pilon, Vice Chairman, Board of Directors, TECNA, and President & CEO of Windsor-based WEtech Alliance.
“Given the radical shortfall in tech workers to fill available jobs in recent years, it’s imperative we understand migration movements to better serve our members, the innovation workforce, and the broader technology ecosystem.”
Key Migration Findings Between April 2022 and March 2023
Canada’s Top Ranking Net Migration of Tech Workers by Country
- India (15,097 tech workers)
- Nigeria (1,808 tech workers)
- Brazil (1,675 tech workers)
- Ukraine (1,207 tech workers)
- Philippines (1,129 tech workers)
- Iran (1,046 tech workers)
- France (935 tech workers)
- UAE (744 tech workers)
- Hong Kong SAR (715 tech workers)
- Pakistan (588 tech workers)
Canada’s Largest In-Migration by City
- Mississauga, Ontario (1,900 tech workers)
- Montreal, Quebec (959 tech workers)
- Waterloo, Ontario, Canada (633 tech workers)
- Windsor, Ontario, Canada (557 tech workers)
- Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (525 tech workers)
- Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (456 tech workers)
- Kitchener, Ontario, Canada (437 tech workers)
- London, Ontario, Canada (418 tech workers)
- Hamilton, Ontario, Canada (363 tech workers)
- Calgary, Alberta, Canada (331 tech workers)
“We are thrilled with the recent announcement by Immigration Minister Sean Fraser, as it paves the way for Canada to welcome workers with H1B visas into our tech ecosystem. This groundbreaking program is set to bring 10,000 highly skilled professionals to our country, fortifying our position as a leading destination for tech talent,” said Chris Albinson, CEO and president at Communitech.
“In addition, the Toronto–Waterloo corridor, one of North America’s largest and fastest growing tech hubs, already attracts talented individuals on a daily basis, and this new initiative will propel our ecosystem to even greater heights. Equally important, the valuable data provided in this study grants Canadian teams crucial insights into tech talent migration, empowering them to make informed hiring decisions, and better serve the broader technology ecosystem.”
Photo by Field Engineer from Pexels