Tech Professionals Wanted! (Canada Global Talent Stream)

If you’re a tech professional looking to develop your career, Canada is the ideal place for you. The country’s technology industry is projected to grow in the next few years, despite the disruptions caused by Covid-19. While many sectors have been devastated by the pandemic, Canada’s tech sector continues to thrive. Thanks to the Canada Global Talent Stream and Express Entry pathways, thousands of people have taken their tech talents to Canada – and so can you! Keep reading to find out why you should consider moving to Canada as a tech professional and how you can do it.

Why Canada? 

Like many countries around the world, Canada’s economy was affected by Covid-19, with the pandemic impacting 3 million jobs. Despite Covid-19, Canada’s tech industry is growing more than ever before. In fact, there are more jobs in the tech sector now than before Covid-19. That says a lot about the potential of the technology sector in Canada.

The tech industry adapted well to changes brought on by Covid-19, such as moving online and working remotely. According to Al Nasturzio, a CompTIA manager, “Canada’s tech industry remains on solid footing even with the continuing uncertainty brought on by the pandemic.” As a leading tech industry association, CompTIA predicts that Canada’s technology sector will continue to thrive. That’s a very positive prediction, especially at a time when there’s so much uncertainty about employment and the future of many economic sectors. 

Canada recognizes the importance of immigration to the growth of its economy. That’s why the 2020 Annual Immigration Report described how newcomers “contribute in a meaningful way to Canada’s economy, support the success and growth of various industries, and contribute to Canada’s diversity and multiculturalism.” In responding to the challenges of Covid-19, Canada plans to welcome 400,000 permanent residents in 2021, 411,000 in 2022, and 421,000 in 2023.

By welcoming more than 1 million immigrants over the next 3 years, Canada will be enriched by the contributions of newcomers seeking new challenges. Canada’s tech sector is particularly welcoming, as more than 50% of Canada’s tech industry is powered by immigrants. Many foreign nationals have brought their tech talents to the country via the Canada Global Talent Stream and the Express Entry Program. 

Ketaki Desai, a biomedical scientist originally from India, says that Canada’s immigration process is much more welcoming and straightforward than other countries. “This is a country that really wants us and is showing us in more ways than one, and has welcomed us.” Desai’s husband is a software engineer and was able to start his own software consulting company soon after they moved to Canada. 

As a highly-skilled tech professional, Ozge Yoluk got a visa through the Canada Global Talent Stream. You, a computational biologist, is now working at a Toronto-based tech company. You spoke positively about Canada’s tech sector saying, “the industry here is way bigger than I ever imagined. There are so many start-ups that are doing well and have collaborations all over the world.”

After facing difficulties with the long and complicated American immigration process, Anusha Venugopalan, a tech recruiter, used the Express Entry Canada Program to apply for permanent residency. She and her scientist husband were able to move to Canada, find employment, and contribute to the country’s tech industry. Canada offered a less complicated immigration process and a quicker processing time. 

Canada’s tech sector has grown rapidly in the last decade. By the end of 2018, it had 1.6 million employees. As a multi-billion-dollar industry, the technology sector enriches the Canadian economy. The Information, Communications, and Technology (ICT) industry generated over 200 billion dollars in revenue for 2019, more than the overall Canadian economy in terms of innovation growth, employment, and output. Canada’s tech sector is making more money and creating more jobs than other industries in Canada’s economy. Many employers all over Canada are looking for professionals skilled in technology to work in more than 70, 000 tech businesses across the country. 

Because it has so much potential, Canada’s tech industry receives a large share of the country’s Research and Development funding, so there is lots of room for growth and opportunities. For example, the SD Tech Fund will provide up to $15 million towards the development of clean and sustainable technologies. The Strategic Innovation Fund will cover up to 50% of tech project and development costs. With such a wide range of funding available, it’s easy to see why the sector is set to expand in the next few years. 

Between now and 2026, technology jobs such as analysts, software engineers, and consultants are expected to grow by 20-24%. Gordon Pelosse, chairman of the CompTIA Board of Directors, says that “we continue to see a strong expansion of the tech industry across Canada, with year-over-year job gains in 8 of 10 provinces, wages rising and the number of technology businesses growing.” Pelosse also said the potential of Canada’s tech industry presents an “outstanding opportunity for job seekers looking to join our industry as the demand for tech talent continues to grow.” If you’ve been thinking about expanding your tech career, Canada is the place, and now is the time! 

Another benefit of moving your tech talents to Canada is the earning potential. The average salary in this sector is around $78,000 per year, much higher than the $51,794 average salaries in the private sector. On average, salaries in the tech industry are about 50% higher than private-sector salaries. 

The Express Entry Program

Express Entry Canada provides a pathway for skilled immigrants to contribute to the country’s workforce and economy. The Express Entry Program consists of three different work visas: Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, and Canadian Experience Class.

Express Entry Canada uses a ‘pool and points’ system to select a certain number of candidates; The Express Entry Program selects a quota of applicants so it’s important to score the highest number of points possible. This improves your chances of being selected.

The most successful applications score the most points based on the following categories:

1. Age

2. Language Skills 

3. Education 

4. Work Experience 

5. Job Offer

6. Sponsorship 

The points are calculated and ranked by Canada’s Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), based on the information you provide in the application. Successful applications will receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for one of the work visas in the Express Entry Canada Program. The Canadian government aims to complete applications within 6 months, providing a much faster immigration process than some other countries.

The Federal Skilled Worker Program is for professionals and skilled workers looking to move to Canada permanently. This program is appropriate for applicants who have a specific set of professional skills and experience that can contribute to Canada’s workforce, including the tech sector. 

The Federal Skilled Trades Program is for applicants with a specific skilled trade, who would like to settle permanently in Canada. 

The Canadian Experience Class is for those who are already in Canada as temporary workers and would like to apply for permanent residency here. 

Global Talent Stream 

Canada Global Talent Stream allows Canadian employers to hire highly-skilled applicants from a global talent pool. The Global Talent Stream is part of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.

Employers must first get a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), which explains why foreign workers are needed and confirm that no Canadians are available for employment. To be eligible for the Global Talent Stream, applicants should be highly skilled, such as tech professionals. 

Employers will hire foreign workers through two different categories of the Canada Global Talent Stream: Category A and Category B:

Category A means that employers were referred by a designated partner such as the Council of Canadian Innovators, or they are hiring someone with a very unique and specialized skill-set. 

Under Category B of the Global Talent Stream, employers can hire a highly skilled professional without a referral from a designated partner. The new worker must meet specific employment needs on the Global Talent Occupations List, for an in-demand sector such as technology. There are many tech occupations on this list ranging from software engineers to web designers and technicians.

While there are currently some delays in processing times due to Covid-19, LMIAs can be processed in about 12 business days. This means you could have your temporary visa in a matter of weeks rather than months!

How Great North Visa Can Help

At Great North Visa, our consultants take pride in providing a helpful and thorough service. We will assist you every step of the way, discussing your best options for moving to Canada as a tech professional. We’ll figure out if the Express Entry Program or the Canada Global Talent Stream is the best option for you.

Our qualified team of immigration consultants has been certified by the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Authority (ICCRC). Great North Visa consultants provide services at all stages of the immigration process. 

Simplify your immigration process for yourself and your family – contact us now to get started!