Workforce
Canada's Global
Talent
In Canada, you’ll find exceptional talent to support your global expansion plans. Investors benefit from the world’s most educated workforce and specialized training and skills in every industry.
Canadian talent drives innovation, bringing new ideas and shaping industries. A deep commitment to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fuels this culture of discovery and reinforces Canada’s leadership in research and development.
In addition, Canada actively welcomes foreign talent by offering immigration programs that attract top professionals from around the world. As other countries raise barriers, Canada stands out as the premier North American destination for top talent.
Discover why Canada’s workforce is your competitive advantage.
Economy-wide innovation
Your investment will benefit from a growing talent base of 3.4 million STEM graduates. With 26% of all university enrollments in STEM fields, the talent pool grows each year. Six Canadian cities and regions - Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver, Montréal, Waterloo Region and Calgary - are among the top 20 tech talent markets in North America.
Ten Canadian universities rank among the top 250 in the world. Canada also has a strong track record for retaining STEM talent after graduation. Nearly 90% of Canadian and 72% of international STEM graduates with master's degrees remain in Canada after completing their studies.
Beyond STEM fields, Canada's focus on education offers a steady stream of highly skilled graduates in business, humanties, arts, social sciecnes and education. Across all industries, the workforce is diverse, multicultural and speaks over 200 languages.
Commitment to diversity
Canada celebrates diversity in business and community life. It’s the first country to require businesses to disclose information on the representation of women, Indigenous people, disabled populations and visible minorities in management. Gender identity and expression are also enshrined in the Canadian Human Rights Act. These steps allow Canada to make clear progress on workplace diversity – a true competitive advantage in today’s global economy.
Talent from around the world
Canada is open to top talent from anywhere in the world. Through fast-track programs such as the Global Skills Strategy and Global Talent Stream, companies benefit from priority processing for work permits and rapidly bring in specialized workers, sometimes in as little as two weeks. These programs make Canada a prime destination for global talent and give businesses timely access to the expertise they need to grow.
The Goverment of Canada has committed to easy labour mobility across domestic borders, making it much faster for companies to recruit skilled workers.
“Canada is home to some of the greatest universities in the world, and every year, more and more great talent is graduating. For companies looking to scale their operations or enter new fields, Canada is a perfect place to partner and tap into that talent.”
Stephen Hampton, Head of Global Public Policy, Strategic Accounts and Business Development, Telesat
More reasons to invest in Canada
Let’s work together
At Invest in Canada, we are dedicated to your company’s success. Our team is your trusted guide to investing in Canada. We get to know your business, offer insights and information and connect you with the right people and places to support your decision.