Bright, young talent isn’t going to settle for unfulfilling jobs in unaffordable cities in today’s post-pandemic world. On the heels of the Great Resignation and the onset of ‘Quiet Quitting’, tech talent is looking to Calgary, Canada to build a life – and a career – of adventure and opportunity.
Located in the foothills of the Canadian Rocky Mountains, Calgary is emerging as a globally recognized tech and innovation hub with the fastest tech workforce growth in North America, according to 2022 LinkedIn Talent Insights.
Job seekers can see career opportunities compounding as tech talent and total tech jobs in Calgary have grown by 22 per cent in the past five years. This momentum, notes research by CBRE, ranks Calgary in the Top 50 North American Markets for Tech Talent.
With tech growth across numerous sectors including interactive digital media, enterprise technology, energy, agriculture, film and television, aerospace, health and life sciences the city has opportunities for all.
Demand for tech talent has soared as digital transformation drives technology adoption and growth in all sectors. Calgary businesses are leading the $20 billion spend on digital transformation forecast in Alberta between 2021 and 2024. Energy transition and net zero is another $61 billion opportunity for Alberta.
Beyond a meaningful career, Calgary is a welcoming, inclusive and vibrant city to build a life.
The city was ranked the third most livable city in the world, and number one in North America, in the 2022 Global Livability Index by Economist Intelligence Unit. With top marks in Culture, Education, and Environment, the ranking aligns with the city’s vision to drive long-term prosperity through a focus on livability and talent in the economic strategy, Calgary in the New Economy.
As a globally recognized city to build a life, Calgary is on the radar of both professionals and companies looking for a new adventure.
Calgary’s Innovation Ecosystem
An innovation hub is emerging at the heart of Calgary’s downtown core, scaling big ideas to solve global challenges. Both a physical space and community collective, the Innovation District is championed by Platform Calgary, Innovate Calgary and the city’s seven post-secondary institutions.
Entrepreneurs are connected to resources, mentorship and venture capital through the over 45 business accelerators and incubators in the innovation community. Since 2015, the innovation ecosystem in Calgary has seen a 460 per cent growth in business incubators and accelerators, which has resulted in over 1,700 privately held technology companies.
Innovators who seek venture capital to scale their big ideas can find it in Calgary.
In a record-breaking year for venture capital, 66 Calgary companies made $500 million in deals in 2021. With $427 million invested in the first two quarters of 2022 , Calgary is on pace for yet another record-breaking year.
Companies don’t have to leave Calgary to scale to global heights.
Several Calgary-based tech companies have recently achieved $1 billion unicorn valuation, including Neo Financial, Benevity, Parvus Therapeutics Inc., Shareworks by Morgan Stanley and Enverus Intelligence Research Inc. Several others are well on their way to that status.
Innovators are increasingly active in Calgary’s startup environment, which is resulting in a rapid growth in the number of startups, core technology companies and the emergence of unicorns.
Life in Calgary
Those who live, work and play in Calgary relish the city’s energy, diversity and access to adventures.
The city is one of the youngest and most culturally diverse in Canada, with over 120 languages spoken. With a creative economy underpinning the city’s downtown vibrancy, Calgarians enjoy a year-round repertoire of arts and culture festivals.
Foodies inhale Calgary’s culinary scene, as the city is home to the top restaurant in Canada, along with five others on the Top 100 list. Even actor Andrew Garfield, who recently filmed Under the Banner of Heaven in Calgary, has raved about the local eateries on late night talk shows.
The Rocky Mountains are only a one-hour drive away, but those who prefer to stay in the city have ample access to fresh air. Calgary is home to two of the world’s largest urban parks, and the most extensive outdoor pathway and bikeway network in North America.
Young professionals and families can afford to purchase a home, as Calgary is among the world’s 10 most affordable cities for housing. With all that the city offers, it’s easy to call Calgary home.
In Calgary, there’s a vibrant life and meaningful career for everyone. Come join the community of visionaries in North America’s most livable city.
Learn more about tech career opportunities in Calgary on Live Tech, Love Life.
Read the full report: The State of Calgary’s Innovation Ecosystem.
