Halifax identified as key up-and-coming North American market for tech talent
Nova Scotia's technology industry has experienced rapid growth in recent years, but how do we stack up against other cities? The numbers are in according to the 2023 CRBE Scoring Tech Talent report, Halifax is a standout Canadian market, ranking 4th for key up-and-coming North American cities. The CRBE Scoring Tech Talent report is an annual publication that assesses and ranks the top 50 markets in the U.S. and Canada based on their competitive advantages and appeal to employers and tech talent employees. The report also highlights 25 emerging North American tech talent markets that show significant growth potential. Halifax is among only three Canadian cities that made that list, and the only one that made the top five. Joining Halifax is London (8th) and Winnipeg (18th). The top three include Huntsville (1st), Colorado Springs (2nd) and Dayton (3rd). It's an upward trajectory that has only continued for Nova Scotia's capital city, jumping from 12th place in 2020 to 7th in 2021, outranking many large cities with double the population.
Quick Halifax 2021 vs. 2022 Stats
Total Tech Employment (2022): 16,100 (+1,400) Total Tech Growth (5 Years): 58% (+34%) Total Tech Wages (2022): $61,511 USD (+$6,270 USD) Total Tech Wage Growth (5 Years): 21% (+12%) Software Developer Wages (2022): $61,511 USD (+$1,868 USD) Software Developer Wage Growth (5 Years): 25.9% (+10.3%) Tech Talent Degree Graduates (2021): 1,998 834 (+1,164) Eight Canadian cities made the top 50 list, including tech hubs in Toronto (5th) and Vancouver (8th). The report indicates there is a high demand for tech talent in both large and small markets as companies across all industries increase and expand their use and implementation of technology.
Key report findings:
- Overall, tech talent employment grew by 11% between 2020 and 2022, with tech companies adding nearly 2.5 times more workers than the next highest industry sector: professional services;
- Software developers and programmers across all industries accounted for 60% of the new talent employment;
- Job postings for remote tech talent grew to 20% of the 593,000 total tech job postings in May 2023.
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