Six Canadian cities rank among North America’s top 15 tech talent markets

Six Canadian cities have been ranked among the top 15 technology talent markets in North America, according to CBRE’s 2026 Scoring Tech Talent report. Toronto secured the third position continent-wide, trailing only the San Francisco Bay Area and Seattle. Other Canadian cities in the top 15 include Vancouver (9th), Waterloo Region (10th), Montréal (11th), Ottawa (14th), and Calgary (15th).

Canada’s tech workforce is expanding rapidly, adding 91,300 jobs in 2025, a 7.6% increase that outpaced the 1.8% growth seen in the United States. The nation’s 1.3 million tech workers now represent 7% of the total workforce. Calgary recorded the fastest growth rate in North America at 56% over the period between 2022 and 2025.

The report highlights a significant surge in artificial intelligence expertise, noting that the number of AI-skilled tech workers across Canada and the U.S. rose 45% year-over-year to 751,000. In Canada, Toronto, Montréal, and Vancouver collectively account for 60% of the country’s AI-specialty talent. While Vancouver maintains high talent levels, it faces challenges with high housing and office costs.