Halifax and Nova Scotia: Climbing the Ranks in North America’s Tech Landscape

TL;DR – Nova Scotia Tech by the Numbers (CBRE 2025)

• Halifax ranked #2 emerging tech market in North America (2025) → up from #5 in 2024
• 22,100 tech jobs (2024) → up 43.5% since 2021
• +2,000 new jobs year-over-year (2024 → 2025)
• Average tech wage: $69,543 (+20.7% over 3 years)
• Software developer wage: $68,935 (+14.5% over 3 years)
• 1,348 new tech graduates (2023)

Halifax Jumps the Rankings

Halifax has surged to #2 among North America’s emerging tech markets in CBRE’s Scoring Tech Talent 2025report - up from #5 just last year. That rise puts Halifax ahead of dozens of U.S. and Canadian cities, highlighting the city’s growing reputation as a destination for tech talent and investment. This leap is more than symbolic. It’s proof that Halifax’s growth trajectory is accelerating, driven by strong talent pipelines, wage growth, and cost advantages that make Nova Scotia one of the most attractive regions for employers looking to scale.

Halifax’s Growth, Nova Scotia’s Advantage

The report found Halifax’s tech workforce expanded to 22,100 jobs in 2024, a 43.5% increase over three years. Average tech wages rose to $69,543, up more than 20% since 2021, with software developers now earning nearly $69,000 annually. This growth fuels a province-wide impact:

• Talent pipeline: Nova Scotia institutions produced 1,348 tech graduates in 2023, sustaining employer demand across the province.
• Ecosystem connectivity: Halifax’s hub status creates opportunities for startups, scaleups, and global firms to collaborate with partners across Nova Scotia.
• Regional innovation: Companies are proving that innovation is thriving beyond Halifax.
• Global investment: Enterprise companies continue to expand their footprint in Nova Scotia.
• Local success stories: Nova Scotia-born companies showcase how homegrown innovation can scale worldwide.

Several factors explain Halifax’s—and Nova Scotia’s—momentum:

• Affordability: Halifax offers competitive wages with lower costs than Toronto, Vancouver, or major U.S. tech hubs.
• Young workforce: A strong share of workers in their 20s and 30s ensures future-ready growth
• Innovation culture: From Volta’s startup community in Halifax to clean-tech, AI, and advanced manufacturing across the province, Nova Scotia is building an ecosystem where collaboration drives scale.

Year-over-Year Growth Snapshot (2024 → 2025)

• Halifax rose from #5 to #2 in North America’s emerging tech market rankings.
• +2,000 new jobs added in Halifax’s tech sector.
• 7% average wage growth year-over-year.
• Graduate pipeline steady, with 1,300+ new tech grads entering the workforce annually.

At Digital Nova Scotia, we’re proud to help fuel this momentum—connecting talent, industry, and opportunity as Nova Scotia secures its place on the global tech map.