When people think of career growth, job opportunities and a great work-life balance, people more than often think of Canada. The country has proven over time that there is a great need for foreign workers, even when the pandemic hit, Canada showed that the economy is strong enough and with that, continues to employ people.
To increase your chances of securing a great job, learning which is the top cities in Canada for job opportunities would be the best thing to do. In this article, we will discuss exactly that and how to go about working in Canada.
Canadian Cities With the Most Job Opportunities
1. Vancouver, British Columbia
Vancouver is one of the world’s wealthiest, cultured and most diverse cities in the world. The city has a booming economy which means plenty of jobs. Known for everything technology, Vancouver would be the perfect place for you if you’re looking for a career in the high-tech industry.
Did you know?
Unbounce, Hootsuite and Perch were all created in Vancouver.
Other major economic sectors include:
- Trade;
- Film and TV;
- Natural Resources; and
- Construction.
The average salary earned in Vancouver is $65,616.
2. Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton is now one of Canada’s leading industrial centres. Its iron and steel industry, which began in the mid 19th century, has grown to become Canada’s largest. As a newcomer in Canada, you’ll be pleased to know that almost a quarter of Hamilton’s population is made up of Canadian permanent residents and naturalized citizens. This means you’ll have plenty of help when it comes to settling with your family.
The top three locations of jobs in Hamilton are in the central lower city, the Mountain and the industrial waterfront area. Hamilton’s largest industry sectors are:
- Advanced Manufacturing;
- Agribusiness and Food processing;
- Creative Industries; and
- Finance.
The average Hamilton salary in Canada is $36,075 per year.
3. Edmonton, Alberta
Edmonton is famously known as the “Gateway to the North”, the city is an assembling area for large-scale oil sands projects occurring in northern Alberta and large-scale diamond mining operations in the Northwest Territories. Key industries in Edmonton include:
- Energy – Oil and gas;
- Agriculture;
- Advanced Technology; and
- Financial Services.
The average salary earned in Edmonton is $55,253
4. Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is a great place to live with your family as it’s known for its clean environment and high ratings in business freedom, safety and healthcare. For those who aren’t a fan of the snow, Victoria is ideal as it’s very rare to experience snow in the city. Victoria’s economy includes activity in:
- Education;
- Construction;
- Health; and
- Retail.
The average salary earned in Victoria is $39,000.
5. Calgary, Alberta
Calgary is one of Canada’s wealthiest, cleanest and most liveable cities. Residents can enjoy a lower cost of living and a good job market. If you move to Calgary you’ll also have the lowest provincial personal income tax rate in Canada, at just 10 percent. Main industries in Calgary include:
- Energy;
- Technology;
- Manufacturing; and
- Aerospace.
The average salary earned in Calgary is $50,200.
What Are the Top-Earning Occupations in Canada 2022
Below is a table of the highest-paying occupations in Canada for 2022.
| TOP PAID SALARIES IN CANADA | |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Average Yearly Salary |
| Surgeon | $354,000 |
| Dentist | $293,000 |
| Petroleum Engineer | $208,000 |
| Psychiatrist | $290,000 |
| IT Manager | 203,000 |
| Marketing Manager | $195,000 |
| Pilot | 195,000 |
| Lawyer | $192,000 |
| Sales Manager | $187,000 |
| Business Operations Manager | 170,000 |
Working in Canada as a Foreigner
Any foreign national who wants to work in the top cities in Canada for job opportunities needs a work permit to do so legally. The main Canadian permits are the open work permit and the employer-specific permit. The type of permit you’ll need will depend on the job you’re applying for or the program you apply through. Ultimately, the differences are:
- An open work visa allows you to work for any employer, anywhere in Canada. Obtaining this type of visa can be done via the International Mobility Program which includes several programs.
- An employer-specific work visa has certain conditions that you’ll have to follow including being limited to one employer and position. This visa can be obtained through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP).
Below is a table of programs you can get an open and employer-specific visa through:
| PROGRAMS FOR CANADIAN WORK PERMITS | |
|---|---|
| Open Work Permit | Employer-Specific Work Permit |
| Post-Graduate Work Permit – For international students who graduated from a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) | Global Talent Stream – Designed to help Canadian employers gain access to highly-skilled global talent. |
| Reciprocal Youth Change Agreements – International Experience Class (IEC) for people aged 18 to 35-years old that want to travel and work in Canada | Agriculture Stream – Canadian employers can hire a temporary foreign agricultural worker in occupations and activities related to primary agriculture. |
| Intra-Company Transfer Program – Allows foreigners to transfer to a Canadian branch of the company they currently work for abroad. | High and Low Wage Stream – Canadian employers can hire temporary foreign workers for a range of positions under high and low wage streams. |
What are the Canadian work visa requirements?
There are specific requirements that you’ll need to meet for each type of visa and depending on your country of origin, however, there are general requirements that need to be met by all applicants. They are:
- to prove to an officer that you’ll leave Canada when your work permit expires;
- to show that you have enough money to take care of yourself and your family members during your stay in Canada and to return home;
- to obey the law and have no record of criminal activity;
- to not be a danger to Canada’s security;
- to be in good health and have a medical exam, if needed;
- to not plan to work for an employer listed with the status “ineligible” on the list of employers who failed to comply with the conditions;
- to not plan to work for an employer who, regularly, offers striptease, erotic dance, escort services or erotic massages; and
- to give the officer any other documents they ask for to prove you can enter the country.
Some benefits of Working in Canada
As a person working in Canada, you’ll have many benefits that come along with, this includes:
- Parental leave – parents expecting a child (adoption included), recently given birth or caring for a newborn, are given 40 weeks of parental leave. 5 of which are specifically meant for dads to take time off work to care for their newborns.
- Training opportunities – include paid educational leave, apprenticeships and professional training and tuition compensation.
- Work times – in Canada the work hours are 8 hours a day and 40 hours a week. Any excess hour spent on work has to be paid.