India leads global tech worker migration to Canada, filling talent shortage

A recent report released by The Technology Councils of North America (TECNA) and Canada’s Tech Network (CTN) has highlighted India as the largest source of global tech industry professionals migrating to Canada between April 2022 and March 2023. Among more than 32,000 tech workers, a substantial cohort of 15,097 originated from India, followed by 1,808 from Nigeria. The surge in migration from these countries can be attributed in part to Canada’s immigrant-friendly national policies and favorable labor cost dynamics.

The report underscores the significance of Canada’s approach to immigration, noting that it addresses the persistent global talent shortage in the tech industry. Mississauga, a city boasting nearly 1,000 IT companies and over 300,000 tech experts, emerged as a top destination for tech talent migration. Similarly, Montreal has witnessed a remarkable 31% growth in its tech ecosystem between 2015 and 2020, making it another attractive hub for tech professionals.

Titled ‘Tech Workforce Trends: The Migration of Tech Workers and Tech Jobs Since The Pandemic’, the report highlights that the influx of tech workers is a promising indicator for Canada’s tech workforce. With the ongoing talent scarcity, the inflow of skilled tech professionals has the potential to bolster Canada’s tech industry in the years to come.

Migration data reveals that Mississauga welcomed a total of 1,900 tech workers from around the world, while Montreal saw 959 tech professionals join its ecosystem during the period from April 2022 to March 2023.

The global tech talent migration predominantly featured individuals from India, Nigeria, and Brazil. Notably, the report points out that Canada is also attracting American tech talent, including Indians, from major US cities such as Washington D.C., Boston, Chicago, and Philadelphia. In a bid to allure top tech talent, Canada has begun offering open work permits to H1-B visa holders from the United States. Indians, constituting a significant portion of H1-B visa holders in the US, are set to benefit considerably from this initiative.

The report also highlights Canada’s burgeoning tech ecosystem, which has experienced substantial growth. According to a report from the Business Development Bank of Canada, the tech sector has witnessed average annual revenue growth of 9.4% between 2015 and 2020. In 2022, the country boasted over 400,000 software developers.