September 30th, 2023 at 01:13 am
Massive Migration by Tech Professionals | 32,000 New Tech Professionals Migrated to Canada in a Year
According to recent research by The Technology Councils of North America (TECNA) and Canada’s Tech Network (CTN), Canada received approximately 32,000 tech industry experts from April 2022 to March 2023.
This blog will explore deeper into the insights provided by TECNA and CTN. We’ll concentrate on critical IT worker locations across Canada. In addition, it will provide a more thorough perspective of the country’s tech industry landscape.
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Understanding the TECNA and CTN Reports: New Insights
The research emphasizes Canada’s appeal to tech experts as a result of its immigrant-friendly policies and low-cost labor. The study by TECNA and CTN examines North America’s global impact on tech migration. It also emphasizes a move away from traditional hubs owing to remote work, which is being fueled in part by the epidemic.
The report highlights sustained net in-migration of tech talent to Canada, primarily from India, Nigeria, and Brazil. Increased investments by US tech companies in Canada also contribute to the booming tech sector, which benefits from proximity and wage differences.
Canada will have over 400,000 software engineers by 2022, with expansion in the tech profession extending outside major markets. Notably, smaller provinces such as Saskatchewan, Newfoundland, and Labrador had rapid growth in the tech workforce, with a stunning year-on-year gain of 16.3%.
Rural places, such as Windsor, Ontario, have seen significant growth in the IT workforce, exemplifying the trend toward remote-friendly rural areas across North America. Over the last year, Windsor has seen a 28% increase in the number of tech workers.
Finally, the research by TECNA and CTN highlights the most sought-after digital skills in Canada: Customer Experience, Microsoft Azure, Analytical Skills, Amazon Web Services, React.js, Jira, Data Science, GitHub, Customer Satisfaction, and Customer Relationship Management. This useful information is beneficial to prospective global IT talent seeking a career in Canada.
Which cities stand out as the “most appealing” tech centers in Canada?
Furthermore, the TECNA/CTN survey highlighted Canada’s most appealing cities for top tech talent. In the top three, there were two Ontario (ON) cities and one Quebec (QUE) city.
Mississauga (ON) was first in the lineup, followed by Montreal (QUE) and Waterloo (ON). Let’s look at the reasons that have contributed to each of these cities’ emergence as IT hotspots for newcomers.
Mississauga
Mississauga is a significant element of North America’s second-largest information and communication technology (ICT) cluster, including over 300,000 tech professionals. It is home to around 1,000 enterprises in the information technology (IT) industry. Renowned worldwide IT behemoths such as Microsoft, Oracle, IBM, HP, and Cognizant operate inside their respective bounds, promoting robust technological innovation. Local government encourages innovation through programs such as the Mississauga Innovation and Technology Acceleration Program (MITAP).
MITAP, a technology-focused organization, provides local startups with funding, mentorship, and resources.
Mississauga is home to several rising tech firms, including SOTI, Guidewire Software, HCL Technologies, and Infosys. With a projected population of 995,000 residents by 2051, a 33% increase since 2016, the region shows potential in cultivating an enduring supply of tech talent for both the near and far future.
Montreal
Montreal, which features one of Canada’s most robust innovation ecosystems, has grown by around 31% between 2015 and 2020. The city is known for having the second-largest tech market in the country, and it shines as an important artificial intelligence (AI) and IT hub, luring global companies such as Google, Microsoft, Meta, Samsung, and Intel for their activities.
In Canada, Montreal is home to approximately 200 game production studios, including renowned brands like Ubisoft, Electronic Arts, and WB Games.
It’s not just a shelter for established IT organizations; Montreal also creates a fertile ground for emerging firms like CGI, Hopper, Element AI, Imagia, and Nuvei. Furthermore, the city sponsors important startup-focused events such as Startupfest and MTL Connect: Montreal Digital Week. Academically, Quebec provides significant educational support to the IT sector, with almost 18,000 students enrolled in tech programs across the city.
Waterloo
Waterloo has a thriving tech scene, with 1,570 tech-focused businesses including industry titans such as BlackBerry and D2L. Surprisingly, it ranks among the top 20 global start-up ecosystems.
Looking ahead, the educational influence of the University of Waterloo, Wilfrid Laurier University, and Conestoga College fosters a pool of skilled local tech experts. Furthermore, this nurturing atmosphere, combined with a high quality of life, contributes to Waterloo’s consistent attraction and retention of top-tier talent, resulting in an ICT start-up survival rate that is nearly double the global industry average.
Furthermore, Waterloo stands out as a beacon of major venture capital investment, highlighting its status as a thriving Canadian innovation hub.
Initiatives in Canada to Attract Global Tech Workers
Understanding the aforementioned TECNA/CTN study implies acknowledging Canada’s significant efforts to attract overseas tech workers.
The government’s innovative Tech Talent Strategy and category-specific Express Entry draws aid in these efforts. Both approaches contribute to the national expansion of the tech sector by attracting a greater influx of skilled tech professionals from throughout the country.
Canada’s Tech Talent Strategy: This initiative, spearheaded by the Government of Canada, aims to accelerate the country’s progress toward becoming a top recruiter of global tech talent. The strategy includes the following components:
- Creating a new stream of innovation inside the International Mobility Program (IMP).
- Promoting Canada as a desirable destination for digital nomads.
- Improving labor mobility across North America by instituting a streamlined work permit for H-1B specialty occupation visa holders in the United States who seek to transfer to Canada.
- Finally, current programs dedicated to high-skilled tech vocations will be elevated and refined.
Targeting Tech Fields with Segmented Express Entry
Beginning June 28, 2023, IRCC launched category-specific Express Entry lotteries for federal immigration candidates who meet Canada’s most pressing economic needs. One of the six chosen categories for 2023 is for individuals with employment experience in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). This is in line with Canada’s stated goal of attracting more global tech talent to its shores.
Furthermore, as of this writing, IRCC has conducted a single category-specific lottery for this industry on July 5, 2023. During this event, 500 individuals with a CRS score of 486 or higher were invited to apply for permanent residency in Canada.
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