Canada's Tech Talent Migration | Attracting 32,000 Global Professionals in One Year
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been rapid growth in remote work, leading tech professionals to move away from their traditional tech hubs. This change is evident in Canada's thriving tech industry. Canada continues to attract tech talent from countries like India, Nigeria, and Brazil.
Gurmeet Sharma
In the year 2022, Canada claimed to have attracted over four hundred thousand software developers. Notably, smaller provinces such as Saskatchewan and Newfoundland and Labrador have seen significant growth. Windsor and Ontario have also experienced substantial increases in tech workers due to remote work.
The report identifies high-demand tech skills in Canada, including Customer Experience, Microsoft Azure, Analytical Skills, Amazon Web Services, React.js, Jira, Data Science, GitHub, Customer Satisfaction, and Customer Relationship Management. The report also highlights the most attractive cities for tech talent in Canada.
Mississauga is home to nearly a thousand IT companies and is part of North America's second-largest IT cluster, fostering a robust tech ecosystem. Initiatives like the Mississauga Innovation and Technology Acceleration Program, supported by global giants like Microsoft, Oracle, IBM, HP, and Cognizant, have made it a hub for tech innovation.
Montreal boasts a strong tech ecosystem, with growth ranging from fifteen to twenty percent. It serves as a center for AI and IT and is home to global corporations such as Google, Microsoft, Meta, Samsung, and Intel. The city also hosts over two hundred game development studios. Waterloo, a city in Canada, houses over fifteen hundred tech-related businesses, including BlackBerry and D to L. It is known for its strong academic institutions like the University of Waterloo, attracting capital investment and maintaining a high quality of life.
Canada is rapidly working through initiatives like the Tech Talent Strategy and category-based Express Entry draws to attract tech workers from around the world. Canada's goals include launching an Innovation Stream under the International Mobility Program, positioning Canada as a global tech talent recruitment leader, making the country a destination for digital nomads, enhancing labor mobility with the United States, and improving high-skill tech worker programs.
To achieve its goal of attracting more global tech talent, Canada is organizing draws for candidates with more experience in STEM professions. So far, candidates with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 486 have been invited to apply for permanent residence. These initiatives collectively position Canada as a primary destination for tech professionals seeking opportunities and growth.
