Canada is quickly becoming a global spark for great talent in technology. The country, in 2017, rolled out the Global Talent Stream program targeting streamlining visa applications and easing entry requirements for talented, skilled IT workers. The Canadian government’s incentives have proved a game-changer and have been pivotal in facilitating the entry of over 4,000 foreign workers who have been directly absorbed into IT companies.
The global influx of tech workers in the country is largely facilitated by the existing need for IT skills. Canada is reportedly in a severe shortage of over 200,000 IT professionals. With such job positions readily available, the country is moving in frantic efforts to encourage talented IT workers to come into the country and offer their skills in exchange for lenient entry requirements and possible assimilation as citizens.
Canadian companies are in large need of these IT talented workers even as more companies, not only in Canada but also globally, move towards digitizing their operations. With the local education system in Canada is still in the process of revamping and encouraging students to undertake IT courses, the existing demand is pushing for radical measures to attract talent from around the globe. Therefore, in a few years’ time, Canada is expected to become a major technological hub and center of interest for global companies.
Another factor that is pushing tech companies and individuals to look towards Canada is the relatively favorable cost of living. In the entire Americas, Canada has one of the favorable cost of living, with the median housing prices amounting to about $850,000 as compared to over a million in the US. The high quality of life that workers enjoy in Canada, coupled with the affordability, is a great incentive to many people and companies across the globe.
Other sectors of the country are also equally developed, including the availability of public transportation, favorable business environments, political stability and support, as well as the existence of strong administrative structures. The country has been previously ranked by The Economist as the fourth safest place to work in the world.
Lastly, the tech horizon in Canada is quite promising. The government and companies have committed themselves to develop local and foreign talent through learning institutions as well as the existence of social, political, and economic goodwill.
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