Why skilled workers and global companies are choosing Ontario, Canada

Ontario, Canada is excelling at welcoming the best ideas and talent from all over the world

At Ontario’s Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, our job is to generate awareness that Ontario, Canada is the best location for global firms to innovate, excel and grow in North America.

We know it’s true, but we always appreciate it when reputable, unbiased parties weigh in and confirm it.

Among the latest is an Australian Compare the Market article, which looked at the world’s most popular relocation destinations. Canada ranks #1 across the globe. It also came out on top in the U.S. News & World Report’s Best Countries rankings, which scores countries on their global impressions, ones that have the potential to drive trade, travel and investment—and directly affect national economies.

At the heart of Ontario’s economic success is its talent. Whatever sector you’re operating in, you know that the quality of the talent you’re able to hire is your number-one requirement—the one that ultimately determines your long-term success.

The talent we’re developing here in Ontario through our top-ranked universities and colleges, as well as the talent we’re able to bring to the province thanks to our fast-track visa program, is second to none.

Not surprisingly, Ontario’s tech talent presence was confirmed recently by CBRE, which released its 2022 Scoring Tech Talent report. The report rates the top 50 North American markets on their ability to attract and develop tech talent, including tech graduation rates, tech-job concentration, labour pool size and labour and real estate costs.

CBRE found that Ontario is a top North American tech talent destination, particularly in the hubs of Toronto, Ottawa and Waterloo.

It’s no secret that to attract and keep great talent, you have to give people a great place to live and work. Ontario is that place—we’re tolerant, inclusive, connected, sophisticated and affordable.

But, again, you don’t have to take our word for it. The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) just released its 2022 Global Liveability Index, which ranks 173 of the world’s most liveable cities on various factors, including health care, crime rates, political stability, infrastructure and access to green space.

The overall country winner for global liveability was Canada—with Toronto claiming the 8th spot.

And Time Magazine named Toronto one of the world’s greatest places in 2022, calling it a “multi-dimensional, forward-thinking, diverse city.”

When you take great talent and put it in an innovative and vibrant environment, you produce a magnet for foreign investment. And that’s just what we’ve created—as fDi Intelligence confirmed in its latest 2021/22 Americas Cities of the Future report.

Toronto placed second in the report—just behind New York—for its economic potential and business friendliness.

fDi Intelligence, a division of the Financial Times, also noted that in terms of human capital and lifestyle (measured through indicators including the number of universities, skillset of graduates and ease of finding skilled employees), Toronto outpaced all other cities in the Americas except New York. Other highlighted Ontario cities were Mississauga and Hamilton (first and second place in the mid-sized cities category) as well as Waterloo (5th place overall in the small cities category and top spot regarding human capital and lifestyle).

As fDi Intelligence points out, investors took notice of these Ontario cities. Even amid the pandemic, foreign direct investment in Ontario remained strong, with global tech companies in every sector from automotive to fintech announcing significant projects, including Stellantis, Google and Swoop.

The bottom line: if you’re looking to grow your business and Ontario hasn’t been on your radar, it should be. Ask to speak with one of our business consultants to learn more about the amazing opportunities that await you.