When moving to Canada, one of the main things you want to consider is where you want to live and work. The Canadian economy has been doing well in recent years, with the countryâs unemployment rate hovering around 5%. With nearly every province experiencing growth and opportunity, it can be tough to decide which area of Canada to settle down in. It can be even tougher to decide where to relocate if you are currently looking for work. The best provinces in Canada for job opportunities are those that are known for having high employment rates and low unemployment rates, according to the most recent statistics provided by the Government of Canadaâs Office of the Chief Statistician.
Best Provinces in Canada for Job Opportunities
Of the 10 provinces in Canada, you may think that each and every one of them has the same job market opportunities, but thatâs not true at all. Some of these provinces actually offer more job opportunities than others and can help you start your career off on the right foot if you want to move to Canada from outside the country.
The job market in Canada has slowed down, but itâs still better than in most other countries. Recently, more and more people have been moving to Alberta because the province offers better job opportunities than the rest of the country. But with so many great job opportunities, what are the best provinces in Canada for jobs?
The best provinces in Canada for job opportunities will depend on what youâre looking to get out of your job, but there are always ways to score employment regardless of where you live or work in the country. The best provinces in Canada for job opportunities will depend on what youâre looking to get out of your job, but there are always ways to score employment regardless of where you live or work in the country.
Newfoundland & Labrador
For job seekers who want to be near some of Canadaâs most beautiful natural spaces, Newfoundland and Labrador are good choices. One of its biggest employers is Vale, an international mining company that employs approximately 7,000 people in its operations in Long Harbour. The province also has many call centers, which tend to offer high-paying jobs with flexible hours. In fact, it was ranked as one of Canadaâs Top 10 Call Centres by The Globe and Mail newspaper in 2012.
However, these positions require employees to have strong English skills; French speakers may struggle to find work here. This can be a challenge if youâre moving from another part of Canada. If you do decide to make your home in Newfoundland and Labrador, make sure you take advantage of local employment opportunities while they lastâthe region relies heavily on resources like nickel and iron ore, so there are concerns about whether these industries will remain stable over time.
New Brunswick
This is considered one of Atlantic Canadaâs most prosperous provinces, and it offers a mix of urban-core business opportunities with rural communities. This makes New Brunswick an ideal province for someone interested in balancing work and natureâand there are plenty of opportunities to do so. The capital city, Fredericton, boasts a booming startup scene thatâs been dubbed Silicon Valley North.
Other key cities include Saint John and Moncton. One of New Brunswickâs biggest draws is its education system; among Canadian provinces, it has some of the highest high school graduation rates. And while unemployment in New Brunswick is slightly higher than in other parts of Canada, job growth isnât slowing down anytime soon. If you want to stay close to home but still explore new frontiers professionally, then you might want to consider New Brunswick as your next destination.
Saskatchewan
With a population of just over 1 million, Sask. isnât anywhere near as populated as most of its fellow provinces. But that doesnât mean it doesnât have big opportunitiesâparticularly in agriculture and mining. The government is also investing heavily in green energy, with a goal to produce 50 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030.
And while there are fewer job opportunities here than in other parts of Canada, they tend to be more lucrative: Saskatchewan has one of the highest minimum wages in all of North America at $10.72 per hour (the national average is $9.15). Plus, residents enjoy low taxes: Saskatchewan has no provincial sales tax or payroll tax, and residents pay an average income tax rate of 5.8 percent (compared to 10 percent federally).
Nova Scotia
Although it’s one of Canada’s smaller provinces, Nova Scotia has a pretty good reputation when it comes to job opportunities. The province boasts an unemployment rate below 6%, and recent immigrants are largely responsible for driving its economy forward. They make up over 33% of Nova Scotiaâs population, compared to only 18% across all other provinces. Immigrants also account for more than 50% of business owners in Nova Scotia.
One thing that makes Nova Scotia so attractive is that there is a lot of work available. The province created more jobs than any other Canadian province between 2011 and 2015. The majority of these jobs were created by small businesses, which makes sense considering nearly half (46%) of businesses in Nova Scotia have fewer than four employees.
Manitoba
Although itâs not a province thatâs frequently talked about, Manitoba is one of our top picks when it comes to finding a job. Although its GDP has dropped in recent years, that drop was from a high standard. In fact, Manitobaâs GDP per capita ranks second among all Canadian provinces. As far as workforce productivity goes, Manitobans are on par with those living in Ontario and British Columbia.
If you want to find work in Canada, look no further than Manitoba. It might be small, but it can definitely hold its own against larger provinces like Alberta and Ontario. Plus, it has some of the lowest costs of living in Canada. That means more money left over after taxesâand more money for saving or spending!
Prince Edward Island
P.E.I. scores high on every metric, especially when it comes to job market momentum and economic stability. In fact, P.E.I.’s 2% unemployment rate is not only a full percentage point below that of its fellow Atlantic provinces but also significantly lower than any other province in Canada (which average 5%). The province’s economy is well-diversified, with agriculture playing an important role alongside tourism and manufacturing.
In addition, you can’t beat P.E.I.’s beautiful beaches! And did we mention there are no provincial income taxes? That’s right, if you’re looking for a great place to start your career, P.E.I. might be just what you’re looking for. If job security is a big priority for you, or if you’re simply interested in taking advantage of some tax-free earnings. Then P.E.I. might be worth considering as your next place to live and work. Canada’s second-smallest province (only slightly larger than Ireland), P.E.I.’s population sits at just 152,000 people. This means there are plenty of opportunities to get involved in your community and make friends with your neighbors.
Quebec
Almost 300,000 new jobs were created between 2012 and 2016. Thatâs 2.6 times as many as in Ontario during that same period. While employment rates across Canada increased by 0.5% annually. They grew by 1% in Quebec every year on average over that time period. With low unemployment, rising salaries, and an average weekly wage of $903 (in 2015). Quebec is attracting a growing number of foreign immigrants who want to take advantage of its economic opportunities. The province also has one of Canadaâs highest population growth rates.
These factors have helped it become one of Canadaâs top destinations for job seekers. In fact, according to Statistics Canada, Quebec experienced net interprovincial migration gains from all other provinces except Newfoundland and Labrador. That means more people are moving there than leavingâan impressive feat given that most Canadian provinces experience net out-migration.
Ontario
With close to 14,000,000 people and almost 1,800,000 businesses, Ontario is known as one of North Americaâs most populous and prosperous regions. Its many bustling cities include Toronto (Canadaâs financial capital), Ottawa (the political capital), and Windsor (one of Canadaâs busiest border crossings). The service sector is strong here thanks to a highly educated workforce and easy access to New York City via air travel.
It was also chosen by Forbes as #2 on its list of best places to start a business. The cost of living in The Ontario government offers incentives and programs to encourage new businesses. Including the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) Small Business Loan Program; Canadian Youth Business Foundation (CYBF) Startup Assistance Program; Export Development Canada (EDC) Export Voucher Program; Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP); and the National Research Councilâs Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP).
British Columbia
With an unemployment rate of 5.7% as of February 2018. British Columbia (BC) is one of only three provinces to have below-national-average joblessness. The provinceâs population is spread out over a large area. Second only to Ontario, by landmassâwhich may contribute to it having fewer job opportunities than other provinces.
However, Vancouver and Victoria are high-tech havens and have consistently been top cities for job seekers. In addition, BC has had above-average economic growth in recent years; its GDP grew at 2.3% from 2015 to 2016, compared with 1.5% for Canada overall. This economic growth has created many new jobs across various industries; construction jobs increased by 9%, while healthcare jobs increased by 7%. In fact, BC was ranked first on LinkedInâs list of most sought-after places to work in 2017; perhaps unsurprisingly, tech companies were among those hiring rapidly there.
Alberta
The Canadian province of Alberta is home to some of the largest companies in North America. A lot of these companies are international, such as Shell and GM Financial. This means that youâll have a wide variety of job opportunities if you want to move here. If youâre looking for a big city with job opportunities, then Alberta is one province worth looking into,
There are plenty of job opportunities in Canada for foreigners in Alberta. In this province, you have your choice of lifestyle. It has many towns and rural areas to enjoy and live in. It also has two major cities, Calgary and Edmonton, with strong economies, top-tier universities, and an array of entertainment.
Families in Alberta also enjoy a higher income average and a lower cost of living compared to many other provinces. Generally, rental expenses, as well as taxes, are lower, too. Weather-wise, it’s the sunniest province in Canada.
Final Thoughts on the Best Provinces in Canada for Job Opportunities
Each province has different industries and jobs available. Some areas have more job opportunities while others have more industry diversity. If you want to find where you can work in your field, look at which provinces are hiring people like you. The Canadian government has a detailed resource site that allows you to search job opportunities by province and skill set so you know where to apply when relocating across Canada.
This is especially helpful if thereâs a certain region of Canada that interests you. But it may not be your current home. After reading about what provinces offer for employment. Think about what skills you have and whether or not they align with any potential jobs available in those regions. If they do, make sure to include that information on your resume as it could be a key factor in landing an interview.
(For more information about what itâs like living in Canada, check out our related post!)
