Canada’s largest cities are unsurprisingly doing a steadily good job of attracting new companies and new jobs. However, they are lately being surpassed by their smaller neighbors. The Bank of Montreal’s job market report card for the last quarter of 2022 states that the four largest metros — Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, and Calgary have a steady income of job seekers. They still remain Canada’s best cities for job seekers, but the smaller towns have upped their game and are welcoming individuals of all backgrounds. If you have been looking to change jobs, Number 1 Movers Van Lines have prepared a list of potential Canadian cities which might be a perfect catch!
Top 10 best of Canada’s best cities for job seekers
London, Ontario
London is a city in southwestern Ontario located along the Quebec City–Windsor Corridor. According to the latest statistics, more than 420 000 people live in London. Due to COVID-19 London has experienced a rise in the unemployment rate, but luckily, job opportunities and employment have been getting on track. Moreover, self-employed residents make up more than 14% of all London employees.
- Unemployment rate: 7.3%
- Year-over-year job growth: 3.2%
- Around 220 000 employed residents
London is also switching from being a manufacturing economy to a high-tech environment. Other important industries include Construction, Retail, Transportation, Finance, Professional Services, Administration, Education, Health Care, Accommodation and Public Administration. According to ex-employee rating, salaries and general satisfaction, the highest-ranking employers are the following companies: TD, University of Western Ontario, Chop Steakhouse & Bar, Sifton Properties Ltd, Vision Group Canada, etc. If you were still undecided between living in the city or the in the suburbs, this town will change your mind. Lastly, companies such as Mcdonalds’, Walmart, Starbucks, KFC and many similar are in constant search of employees, offering both part and full-time options. That can be especially helpful if you need to earn money fast and are not in a position to be job-picking!
Oshawa, Ontario
Oshawa is a city located on the shoreline of the Lake of Ontario. It is a medium-sized city with more than 170 000 residents. Other than providing a cozy life, it offers an abundance of job offers. In the past, Oshawa was famous mainly for its General Motors assembly plant, which had a huge impact on its economy. However, nowadays its economy diversified, so Oshawa managed to become one of Canada’s best cities for job seekers even in 2022. Today, some of the most prominent industries include Construction, Manufacturing, Wholesale, Retail, Transportation, Real Estate, Professional Services, Administration, Education, Health Care, Arts & Entertainment and Accommodation.
- Unemployment rate: 9%
- Year-over-year job growth: 4.9%
- Around 83 000 employed residents
Although Oshawa is experiencing a bit higher unemployment rate, it has managed to get back on track, after reducing the 2021 unemployment rate from 15,2% to 9%. According to ex-employees experience, the best-ranked companies in Oshawa include the Royal Bank of Canada, Durham College, Oshawa Golf & Curling Club, CJ Limited, Desjardins, etc. If you feel like moving to Oshawa might open doors for new job-related opportunities, hiring movers Oshawa should be your next step!
Edmonton, Alberta is one of Canada’s best cities for job seekers
Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is also considered the centre of the Edmonton Metropolitan Region, which has more than 1 million residents. More than 10% of its residents are self-employed, which is a significant number considering Edmonton’s size. Edmonton’s job market has seen more growth than Calgary’s in recent years.
- Unemployment rate: 11%
- Year-over-year job growth: 3.6%
- Around 558 000 employed residents
The main reason is that its economy is less directly dependent on oil. Other significant industries include Construction, Manufacturing, Wholesale, Retail, Transportation, Finance, Professional Services, Administration, Education, Health Care, Arts & Entertainment, Accommodation and Public Administration. Surprisingly, Healthcare, Construction and Retail employ more than 1/3 of all employed residents, which is around 180 000 people. If you are looking for companies with good pay and working conditions, the companies you should check are ABB, Levitt Safety, Scotiabank, Norseman, Hyatt Place Edmonton West, Marriott International, Inc, etc. If you are currently based in the Mississauga area, contact Mississauga moving companies to get the best moving deals!
Peterborough, Ontario
Peterborough is a city located on the Otonabee River in Ontario. It is only 68 miles away from the capital of Canada. The city is becoming a “bedroom suburb” for people commuting from Greater Toronto. Peterborough once had a thriving manufacturing base. And though it is long past its prime, some of that strong base still remains. Peterborough managed to reduce the 2021 unemployment rate of 14.2 to today’s 9%.
- Unemployment rate: 9.5%
- Year-over-year job growth: 7.8%
- Around 38 000 employed residents
Today, the strongest industries are Construction, Manufacturing, Administration, Education, Health Care, Retail, Transportation, Professional Services and Public Administration. Peterborough is one of Canada’s best cities for job seekers due to the high median age, meaning that less than half population make all employed residents. Therefore, there is a high demand for the workforce. If you are looking for higher-paying jobs, we would recommend looking up the following companies, which are all highly ranked: TD Bank, lifestyle Home Products, AFIMAC Canada, Bell, Primaris REIT – Lansdowne Place, PepsiCo, etc. If Peterborough seems like an interesting place for a fresh new start, contact GTA movers and experience seamless relocation!
Abbotsford, British Columbia
Abbotsford is a medium-sized town relatively close to the USA and Canada border. It has around 150 residents and is considered one of Canada’s best cities for job seekers. Though Abbotsford is somewhat dependent on Greater Vancouver, it still has an economy of its own. Out of the entire 80 000 employed residents, around 13 000 of them are self-employed, which is a significant number compared to other mentioned cities. The most popular occupations in Abbotsford are Management, Business & Finance, Sciences and Health, Education, Law & Government, Art & Sports, Sales & Service, Trades & Transport and Natural Resources.
- Unemployment rate: 6.6%
- Year-over-year job growth: 4.3%
- About 80 000 employed residents
If you are looking for jobs with a good working environment, your best options would be the following companies: SiteDocs, The Home Depot Canada, BMO Financial Group, etc. Since Abbotsford is very close to the USA border, finding a job in the USA is also not an excludable option. Companies such as Mcdonalds’, Walmart, Starbucks, KFC and many similar are in constant search of employees, offering both part and full-time options. That can be especially helpful if you need to earn money fast and are not in a position to be job-picking! Therefore, if you are based in the Ontario area and want to move here, contact Dundas movers for the best long-distance moving deals!
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Halifax is the capital of Nova Scotia and a fast-growing town with more than 400 000 residents. Halifax’s economy has benefited from shipbuilding contracts for the Canadian Navy. But in addition to this, it is also developing into a tech and startup hub. Entrepreneurs have been relocating from Hamilton to Halifax because of its affordable living costs, proximity to the beaches and lack of crazy traffic jams. Although Halifax has a bit higher unemployment rate, 7.35% is a much better rate compared to 2021 11.4% unemployment rate.
- Unemployment rate: 7.3%
- Year-over-year job growth: 5.1%
- Around 237 000 employed residents
Today, more than 230 000 Halifax residents are employed and mostly work in Business & Finance, Sciences, Health, Education, Law & Government, Art & Sports, Sales & Service and Trades & Transport. Moreover, Retail, Healthcare and Public administration are the most prominent industries in Halifax. Another interesting thing to mention is the high number of self-employed Halifaxers, about 12% of all employed residents. According to ex-employees’ ratings, the best companies in Halifax are ISANS, Routeware, Inc, Canada Drives, P3 Veterinary Emergency and Referral Hospital, Peer Ledger, MDP Careers, etc.
Kitchener, Ontario- Canada’s best city for job seekers
Kitchener is located in Ontario and is one of the biggest cities in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo. It is also only 60 miles from Toronto, which makes it one of Canada’s best cities for job seekers. If you cannot find the right job within Kitchener borders, you can always commute to Toronto while enjoying an affordable lifestyle in Kitchener. Kitchener has been one of Canada’s best cities for job seekers because it has persisted as one most important tech hubs for years. Also, in recent years, it has become a popular destination for people from Toronto who want to start up businesses in a more affordable housing market.
- Unemployment rate: 6.8%
- Year-over-year job growth: 4.8%
- Around 136 000 employed residents
Among the strongest industries in Kitchener are Manufacturing, Healthcare, Construction, Retail and Public Services. However, more than half of Kitcheners are employed in Business & Finance, Sales & Service and Trades & Transport. If you have a small business, moving to Kitchener would greatly benefit you due to the relatively affordable livability and a larger market and Federal Small Business Corporate of 9%. If you are considering moving here from the Ontario area, contact moving companies Burlington, Ontario and get insight on the best moving deals!
Kelowna, British Columbia
Kelowna is a city located on Okanagan Lake. It currently has 150 000 residents, a number which is constantly growing each year. Like some other Ontario cities on our “Canada’s best cities for job seekers list”, the B.C. province has benefitted from the Vancouver booming economy.
Kelowna’s economy has also experienced growth in the tech sector of 15 % per year. Kelowna also had the lowest 2021 unemployment rate of all the mentioned cities and managed to reduce it by half in the first half of 2022.
- Unemployment rate: 6%
- Year-over-year job growth: 0.4%
- 78 000 employed residents
Out of all employed Kelownars, 20% are self-employed, which is worth mentioning for those looking for new jobs and considering being self-employed. All in all, the most significant occupations in Kelowna include Sales & Service, Trades & Transport, Finances and Education, Law & Government. As for the best-rated companies in Kelowna, the highest ranked on Glassdoor.com include RauDZ Regional Table, BRAR BROTHERS HOLDINGS LTD, Marriott International, Inc, Moxies, Fullscript, Traveland RV Canada, etc. If you are currently based in the Ontario area and plan on doing the long-distance move to Kelowna, hiring Cambridge movers would be the best next move!
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Saskatoon is the biggest city in the province of Saskatchewan and has been an economic and cultural center since 1882. Lately, Saskatoon’s economy has been diminished by volatility in the oil and gas sector, but its manufacturing persevered nicely. Today, the most dominant industries are Healthcare and Construction, followed by Manufacturing, Wholesale, Retail, Professional Services and Education. The most popular occupations also include Business & Finance, Sales, Trades and Transportation and Healthcare, which has been having a decrease in staff since 2020.
- Unemployment rate: 6.8%
- Year-over-year job growth: 5.4%
- Around 140 000 employed residents
If you are looking for a steady income job with good working conditions, we advise you to check out these companies: Jazz Aviation LP, Andrew Agencies Ltd, Saskatchewan Foster Families Association Inc, FFUN Group, Motion LP, Handyman Connection of Saskatoon, Andgo, etc. If you decide to move to Saskatoon from the Ontario area, hiring Ancaster movers will ensure your swift and smooth relocation!
Guelph, Ontario
Guelph, or Royal city, is a city in Southwestern Ontario. It’s a medium-sized city with around 140 000 residents. It is close to Kitchener and Downtown Toronto, which is another reason why it belongs to the “Canada’s best cities for job seekers” list. Guelph has had a very busy manufacturing sector in recent years and an influx of new residents. Usually, those are Torontonians looking for more affordable housing. That has sent the city’s economy into overdrive, scoring a 3.8% unemployment rate.
- Unemployment rate: 3.8%
- Year-over-year job growth: 0.8%
- Around 80 000 employed residents
The most popular industries in Guelph include the Manufacturing sector, Wholesale & retail services, Transportation and warehousing, Education, health & social services. If you decide to relocate here via movers Niagara Falls Ontario, the companies we recommend when looking for a job are: Schema App, University of Guelph, AFIMAC Canada, Todd O’Donnell Insurance Agency, Anishnabeg Outreach Training and Employment Inc, etc.
Canada’s best cities for job seekers- final thoughts
All in all, there are many great Canadian cities for those looking for a new job. Most of them are in Ontario and British Columbia. Whichever city you choose, we recommend you do a bit of in-depth research. Just looking at the city’s economy is not enough. You should look into city safety, demographics, living costs, crime rate, education, transportation, etc. Moreover, also consider your wishes and needs before opting for one of Canada’s best cities for job seekers. Some cities have higher demands for specific professions, such as healthcare personnel, construction workers, etc. Almost all cities are medium-sized and offer a variety of opportunities, both for older and younger residents. They are urban cities, but still much more peaceful and safe. Most are also really affordable to live in. Most homes or apartments rent out for 1,5k to 2,5k CAD monthly, depending on the city. All in all, whichever city you opt for, make sure to think thoughtfully before contacting the best moving companies Etobicoke and making the final decision!
References:
https://www.glassdoor.com/Award/Best-Places-to-Work-Canada-LST_KQ0,26.htm